In a significant escalation, Russia has unleashed a barrage of hundreds of drones and missiles across western Ukraine, marking one of the most intense bombardments in recent weeks, according to Ukrainian officials. Reports indicate strikes took place in various regions including Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv, resulting in at least one death and numerous injuries.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized the necessity for enhanced air defenses and diplomatic actions to resolve the ongoing conflict. His statements come amid discussions led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who proposed Switzerland, Austria, or Turkey as potential locations for future peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This dialogue gained traction following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin in Alaska, which was followed by a gathering of Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House. Zelensky expressed his openness to meet with Putin in “any format.”

Additionally, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto proposed Budapest as a venue for such discussions. However, Hungary’s close ties with Moscow and its historical obstruction of EU support for Ukraine have raised concerns regarding its neutrality as a host. While addressing the media on Thursday, Zelensky refrained from commenting on Hungary’s proposal but mentioned he asked Trump to exert pressure on Hungary to facilitate Ukraine's EU accession negotiations, to which Trump assured cooperation.

Amid these diplomatic efforts, he reported that Russian forces are amassing on the southern front near Zaporizhzhia, one of the four regions Russia claims. The Ukrainian air force indicated it intercepted 577 of the 614 aerial assaults during the night. Sybiha reported one missile targeted a significant American electronics firm in western Ukraine, inflicting substantial damage and casualties.