Istanbul, June 4 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Monday that drone attacks on Russian targets would continue unless Moscow stops its military offensive, following a strike on Russia’s strategic bomber fleet just ahead of a landmark peace talk in Istanbul.
Speaking to reporters after the first direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations since May 2022, Zelenskyy described the drone strike as a “strategic operation” that weakened Russia’s military capabilities.
“This is happening on a daily basis,” Zelenskyy said, referring to ongoing Russian assaults, including a recent overnight attack involving over 480 drones. “Unless they will stop, we will continue.” When asked if the strikes risked provoking Russia, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was unconcerned about Moscow’s reaction, noting that Russia had continued its attacks regardless.
The U.S.-brokered talks in Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace lasted just over an hour and included discussions on prisoner exchanges and a potential meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that both sides agreed to exchange all severely wounded and ill prisoners of war, as well as the bodies of thousands of fallen soldiers.
Zelenskyy also urged U.S. President Donald Trump to take “strong steps” to support sanctions and pressure Putin to end the war, or at least agree to a ceasefire. Ukraine has called for a 30-day ceasefire to create space for negotiations, but Russia has rejected the proposal, with President Putin reaffirming his broad war objectives set at the start of the invasion.
