The Russian capital Moscow was rocked by a heavy drone attack on the eve of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that more than 390 drones targeted the capital overnight.
In a post on Telegram, Sobyanin said air defense systems shot down most of the attack vehicles long before they reached the city. He noted that Russian air defenses destroyed another 81 drones as they approached Moscow.
Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov also stated on the same platform that a residential building and some houses were damaged, but no casualties have been reported so far.
Casualties in eastern Ukraine
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials announced that Russian attacks on frontline towns in the country's east killed seven people and wounded more than 20.
Donetsk region prosecutors said three people were killed in two areas near the contested city of Kostyantynivka, along the 1,200-kilometer front line where fighting has intensified. Although the Russian army claimed to have captured the city this month, Ukrainian officials denied the claim.
Additionally, one person was killed near Kramatorsk, which is critical for Ukraine's defense. A total of 18 people were wounded across Donetsk.
Dnipropetrovsk Regional Governor Oleksandr Hanza reported that the Russian army carried out more than 50 attacks with artillery and drones in the region, killing three people and wounding six.
Zelenskyy to meet Trump at White House
On the political front, US President Trump will host his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy at the White House. The meeting will address ways of US support against Moscow.
The visit comes at a time when both Ukraine and Russia have intensified their long-range attacks and US-led diplomatic efforts have stalled.
A White House official told AFP last Friday that the two leaders would meet in Washington on Tuesday. That date coincides with the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11.
Zelenskyy said he was preparing to meet with the US president and his team, adding, 'I hope Washington will continue its support for Ukraine and that we can end this war with peace.'
Relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have long been strained. Since returning to the White House, Trump has largely halted direct arms shipments to Kyiv, instead favoring the 'Burl' program that allows Europeans to purchase weapons and transfer them to Ukraine. However, Trump has shown a more flexible stance toward Ukraine in recent weeks. The US remains a key ally of Kyiv, particularly providing intelligence sharing and access to the Starlink system that enables military communications on the front lines.
Russia sanctions bill in US Senate
During his Washington visit, Zelenskyy is also expected to meet with the US Senate. Advisers to two senators said all 100 senators have been invited to a meeting with the Ukrainian leader on Tuesday evening.
One adviser said the Senate could vote on a bill imposing sanctions on Russia, of which Graham was a leading supporter. The bill aims to reduce the revenues Russia earns from energy sales used to finance the war.
The bill, which had been stalled for about a year, resurfaced after Graham's sudden death this month. Lawmakers had reduced the tariff rate in the bill from 500 percent to 100 percent to garner more support. However, the bill is causing controversy in Congress over concerns it could grant new powers to Trump.
