Ukraine's air force reported a significant Russian attack that began Monday night and continued into Tuesday morning. This assault is noted as the largest overnight barrage in weeks. The attack coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's meetings with President Donald Trump and European leaders in Washington.

According to the air force, Russia launched 270 drones and 10 missiles at Ukraine. Of these, 30 drones and six missiles were intercepted or neutralized. The air force confirmed that 40 drones and four missiles struck 16 locations, with debris falling in three areas. This attack surpassed a previous one on July 31, when Russia deployed 309 drones and eight missiles.

In response, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 23 Ukrainian drones overnight, with 13 of those downed over the Volgograd region. Regional Governor Andrey Bocharov reported that falling debris caused fires at an oil refinery and on a hospital roof, but there were no casualties.

The timing of the attack coincided with high-level discussions in Washington aimed at finding a resolution to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The summit followed a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Putin rejected an immediate ceasefire and insisted that Ukraine must cede its eastern Donetsk region.

Ahead of the Washington meetings, Trump suggested that Zelenskyy could end the war quickly if he chose to. Trump stated on social media, "President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight." He also indicated that Ukraine would not be allowed to join NATO and would not regain Crimea, which Russia occupied in 2014.

Despite concerns about the tone of the discussions, the meetings on Monday were described as cordial. Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders expressed support for a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin, a proposal that Putin has previously avoided. Trump mentioned, "I think it's going to be when, not if," regarding the potential meeting.

Following the discussions, Trump announced on social media that he had spoken with Putin and started arrangements for a meeting between the two leaders. The Kremlin has not confirmed Putin's willingness to attend. Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin aide, stated that Trump and Putin supported ongoing direct negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

During the talks, Trump addressed security guarantees for Ukraine, stating, "We're going to be discussing it today, but we will give them very good protection, very good security." He later confirmed that Putin would accept security guarantees, although Russian officials reiterated that NATO troops in Ukraine would be unacceptable.

Zelenskyy and European leaders reiterated their call for a full ceasefire before peace negotiations could commence. Trump has previously advocated for a ceasefire but appeared to shift his stance after his meeting with Putin, saying, "I don't think you need a ceasefire."

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Trump for hosting the meeting, emphasizing the importance of U.S. support for Ukraine's security. He stated, "The leaders personally came to support Ukraine and discuss everything that will bring us closer to real peace."

European leaders, however, indicated that significant challenges remain. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed skepticism about Putin's desire for peace, stating, "As long as he thinks he can win through war, he will do so." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted that discussions about territorial concessions were not addressed, emphasizing that such decisions must be made by Ukraine during negotiations.