Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday expressed disappointment over the lack of a response from the United States after Russia refused to agree to "a full, unconditional ceasefire". The rejection came amid another deadly aerial attack by Russia, which killed two people and injured several others.

Ukraine has accepted a ceasefire proposed by the United States to end the war, which has lasted over three years. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declined to participate.

"We are waiting for the United States to respond – so far there has been no response," said Zelenskyy.

Deadly attacks and damage across Ukraine

Russia launched what Ukrainian officials described as a "massive nationwide attack" using drones and various types of missiles. According to Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the strikes targeted multiple regions.

Zelensky noted that "the number of Russian air attacks is increasing", adding that it showed "the pressure on Russia is still insufficient".

In Kyiv, loud explosions were heard during the night, with smoke visible in the sky on Sunday morning. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, reported: "Preliminarily, one person was killed, and three were wounded, two of them were admitted to hospital."

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that "the body of a man killed in an enemy attack was discovered in Darnytsia district. He was on the street, near the epicentre of the explosion. The man's identity is being established."

A missile strike also partially destroyed a building used by state foreign-language broadcasters. The Freedom television channel, which broadcasts in Russian, reported that its newsroom was destroyed.

Emergency services reported fires in Kyiv affecting non-residential buildings, including a multi-storey business centre, a furniture factory, and warehouses. In the surrounding Kyiv region, a man suffered burns when a house fire was caused by an attack.

Footage released showed smoke rising from damaged buildings, with one multi-storey structure missing its roof and windows blown out.

Nationwide impact and rising civilian toll

Ukraine’s air force said that overnight Russia launched 23 cruise and ballistic missiles along with 109 drones. Thirteen missiles and 40 drones were intercepted, while 54 others caused no damage. However, attacks caused destruction across six regions.

In Kherson in southern Ukraine, a drone attack killed a 59-year-old man. In the Kharkiv region near the Russian border, two people were wounded in an airstrike. In western Ukraine's Khmelnytsky region, missile debris damaged a home, injuring a woman.

Zelensky revealed that over the past week alone, Russia had launched more than 1,460 guided aerial bombs, 670 attack drones, and over 30 different types of missiles.

Macron calls for stronger action against Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed Zelensky's plea for greater international pressure. "A ceasefire is needed as soon as possible. And strong action if Russia continues to try to buy time and refuse peace," Macron wrote on X, in both French and Ukrainian.

Russian troops claim border advance

Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have taken control of Basivka, a village in Ukraine's Sumy region near the Russian border. This marks only the second time since 2022 that Moscow has claimed an advance into this area. Ukraine has not confirmed the capture but said small Russian assault units are being pushed back.

UN condemns Russian strikes on civilians

The latest attacks come just two days after a deadly missile strike on Kryvyi Rih killed 18 people, including nine children. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned Russia's "reckless disregard" for civilian lives, accusing Moscow of using "an explosive weapon with wide area effects".

Russia said it had hit a central artillery base and drone production sites. It also accused Ukraine of targeting energy infrastructure, including a gas facility in Russia's Voronezh region.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly advocating for a partial ceasefire, but so far, efforts to reach an agreement have fallen short. Meanwhile, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said the next round of US-Russia talks could take place "already next week".

Dmitriev, who visited Washington recently, is the highest-ranking Russian official to travel to the US since the beginning of the invasion.

AFP