Ukraine Sounds Warning Over Russian Troops Massing at Front Line

 

Zelensky Warns of Potential Russian Summer Offensive

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that around 50,000 Russian troops are massing near the northeastern border in the Sumy region, signaling a possible large-scale summer offensive by Moscow.

Ukrainian forces have been engaged in ongoing clashes in Russia’s Kursk region following last summer’s cross-border operations, but recent Russian advances have pushed them back. Moscow has celebrated the recapture of several towns and villages previously held by Ukrainian forces.

"Their strongest forces are now concentrated on the Kursk front," Zelensky said Tuesday, ahead of his trip to Germany, as reported by Sky News. "They aim to drive us out of Kursk and prepare for attacks on the Sumy region."

Trump Criticizes Putin, Expresses Frustration

Former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, calling him "CRAZY!" following deadly missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. Trump also expressed irritation at President Zelensky’s public remarks.

Attempting to mediate a peace deal between the two nations, Trump acknowledged the slow progress and said he would walk away if no agreement could be reached.

"I'm not happy with what Putin is doing," he said. "He's killing a lot of people. I’ve known him a long time and used to get along with him, but now he’s sending rockets into cities. I don’t like it at all."

Peace Talks and Russian Conditions

On May 16, Ukraine and Russia held their first direct negotiations in over three years. The talks led only to a large prisoner exchange and vague commitments from Russia regarding a potential ceasefire.

Moscow insists any peace agreement must address what it considers the root causes of the conflict—Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and laws it claims suppress Russian culture. Ukraine, however, accuses Russia of waging an imperial war to strip the country of its sovereignty and independence.

Heavy Fighting and Escalating Drone Attacks

Combat continues along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front, with both nations carrying out deep strikes. On Sunday, Russia launched its largest drone attack of the war against Ukraine.

On Tuesday night and into Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry reported intercepting 296 Ukrainian drones over 13 regions. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 33 were aimed at the capital. In the surrounding region, Governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed 42 drones were downed, with fragments damaging three homes in Troitskoye. No injuries were reported, though hundreds of flights at Moscow airports were delayed or rerouted.

Meanwhile, Ukraine reported that Russian forces launched an overnight attack using five Iskander ballistic missiles, one guided missile, and 88 drones. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 34 drones and jammed 37 others.

Ukraine's national railway company said infrastructure in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Sumy came under fire. In Kharkiv, rail traffic was temporarily suspended as crews cleared wreckage from a drone strike. In Sloviansk, the Donetsk region, windows at a train station were shattered, and debris from a downed drone caused minor damage to a railcar.