Russia Destroys 55 Ukrainian Drones and Confirms: Kiev's Missiles Will Not Affect the War

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced this morning, Tuesday, that the air defense forces managed to destroy 55 Ukrainian drones during the night in a wide-ranging attack targeting five Russian regions in addition to the Black Sea, as reported by Reuters agency through a statement published on the Telegram application.

In a related context, Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Russian State Duma, stated that resuming the delivery of Western missiles to Kiev is a "step backward," confirming that this will not bring about a fundamental change in the course of the front within the "special military operation zone," as he described it.

Slutsky emphasized in statements to Sputnik agency that Russia's goals in Ukraine will be achieved "sooner or later, either through negotiations or on the battlefield."

Slutsky also criticized US President Donald Trump, saying: "If Trump is serious about a settlement, he must show his seriousness towards Ukraine, not just threaten to impose secondary sanctions on Russia."

Trump had announced in a press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that NATO countries intend to provide Kiev with their Patriot missiles, with the United States providing new alternatives, provided that these countries bear the full costs.

Trump also added a direct threat, indicating that he will impose strict sanctions on Russia and on countries that continue to buy its oil, such as India and China, if an agreement to end the war is not reached within 50 days.