Russia has launched what Ukraine describes as the most extensive drone assault since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, just one day before a scheduled call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. The strikes targeted several regions, including the capital Kyiv, where one woman was killed.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 273 drones by 08:00 local time on Sunday, focusing attacks on the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions. Ukrainian forces intercepted 88 drones, while another 128 reportedly went off course without causing damage. The strikes resulted in at least one death and three injuries, including a four-year-old child in the Obukhiv district near Kyiv.

This marks the largest drone offensive by Russia, surpassing the previous record of 267 drones launched on 23 February, the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion.

The drone attacks occurred amid a renewed diplomatic push. On Friday, Russia and Ukraine held their first in-person negotiations in over three years, meeting in Turkey. The two sides agreed on a new prisoner exchange but made no significant progress on broader peace efforts.

U.S. President Trump has been actively advocating a 30-day ceasefire and warned of increased sanctions if Russia refuses to cooperate. Leaders from Germany, the UK, France, and Poland are expected to join a virtual meeting with Trump before his call with Putin on Monday.

Ukrainian intelligence also claimed Russia might be preparing a “training and combat” launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile overnight, in what Kyiv believes is a bid to intimidate. Moscow has not commented on the allegation.

“Russia is using diplomacy as a smokescreen. Putin wants to continue the war,” said Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following Saturday night’s attacks.

President Trump has indicated that meaningful progress toward peace is unlikely until he meets Putin in person. Ukraine has expressed willingness to accept an immediate, unconditional ceasefire. However, Russia insists any pause in hostilities must be accompanied by a halt in Western military aid to Ukraine.

Putin has also demanded that Ukraine adopt a neutral status, reduce its military forces, and abandon its NATO membership ambitions — terms Kyiv has dismissed as unacceptable.

Currently, Russia controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

President Zelensky was in the Vatican on Sunday, where he had a private audience with Pope Leo following the new pontiff’s inaugural mass. In Rome, he also briefly met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Discussions reportedly centered on the limited Russian delegation in Turkey, continued sanctions on Moscow, and efforts to reach a sustainable peace agreement.