Russia seizes Ukrainian villages and Zelensky accuses Putin of planning a new attack.

President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of planning a new attack after Russian forces took control of four villages in the Sumy region on the border with Russia, in an attempt to establish a "buffer zone" within Ukrainian territory. In his evening address via video, Zelensky stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no serious intention for a diplomatic solution, and that intelligence information and open-source data indicate that Putin and his aides are preparing for new offensive operations. Zelensky added that this behavior reflects Moscow's contempt for anyone seeking peace, possibly referring to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who presented himself as a mediator for a peaceful resolution to the war. He noted that the Russian attacks, which included ballistic and cruise missiles and over 900 drones in the past three days, did not achieve military objectives but only caused widespread destruction, calling for increased pressure on Russia through tougher sanctions. Meanwhile, Trump expressed his dismay at Putin's actions, describing him as insane and expressing astonishment at the continued shelling of Kyiv and other cities. Trump posted on the "Truth Social" platform that he had a good relationship with Putin, but he has become "completely crazy." These developments come amid escalating tensions, with ongoing military operations and simultaneous diplomatic efforts.