Strikes continue despite Trump and Putin agreeing to a pause

Russia and Ukraine accused each other yesterday of violating an agreement to refrain from attacks on energy targets, with scores of drone strikes launched hours after US President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Russia's Vladimir Putin.

In the call between the US and Russian leaders on Tuesday, Putin rejected a proposed full 30-day ceasefire, which had been sought by Trump and previously accepted by Ukraine.

Putin said he would agree only to pause attacks on energy infrastructure, a proposal that was accepted by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who nevertheless denounced Moscow for rejecting a more comprehensive truce.

But even that narrow pause appeared in doubt yesterday. Moscow said Ukraine hit an oil pumping station in southern Russia, while Kyiv said Russia had struck hospitals and homes, and knocked out power to some of its railways.

Zelensky said the continued attacks showed Moscow's words were not aligned with its actions, and that Russia was still not ready for peace.

The Kremlin said it had called off planned attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including by shooting down seven of Russia's own drones heading toward Ukraine. It accused Kyiv of failing to call off its own attacks in what it called an attempt to sabotage the agreement.

REUTERS