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By John Feng, Shane Croucher, and Robert Birsel
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The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched a massive air attack overnight into Thursday using 614 drones and missiles.
There was no immediate word on casualties.
Why It Matters
The latest intense air attack comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a peace summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following his own meetings with both leaders.
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Russia has rejected Ukraine's demand for a ceasefire before peace talks, but its persistent attacks underscore the position Zelensky and his European allies have long held, that a ceasefire is needed for peace talks to begin.
Trump, after his talks with Putin last week, dismissed the importance of a ceasefire and instead signaled an openness to some security guarantees for Ukraine.
What To Know
The Ukrainian air force said the majority of the attack came via drones, with 574 launched by Russia. The rest of the attack involved ballistic or cruise missiles.
The air force said it had shot down or suppressed 577 drones and missiles.
The attacks included 33 cruise missiles, four Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles and two Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, the force said.
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The previous night, Russian attacks wounded at least 14 people, including a family with three young children, Zelensky said on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian leader said the strikes confirmed "the need to put pressure on Moscow, the need to impose new sanctions and tariffs until diplomacy is fully effective."
"I thank all partners who are helping to stop this Russian war," Zelensky continued.
"Together with the United States, Europe, and all those who seek peace, we are working every day to guarantee security. We need strong security guarantees to ensure a truly reliable and lasting peace."
There was no immediate word from the Russian military on the latest attacks.
Ukraine's European allies are formulating plans, with U.S. support, for how to guarantee the country's future security and deter Russian aggression. One option under discussion is a collective defense agreement, similar to NATO's Article 5.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking with reporters in Moscow on Wednesday, said his country must be involved in decisions about guarantees for Ukraine, calling it a "road to nowhere" without Russia's participation and consent.
Lavrov cited the failed 2022 effort in Istanbul to agree on a settlement that would end the war. He said Russia had agreed to Ukrainian proposals back then, only for the initiative to collapse before it could be signed.
"That is why we cannot agree with the idea that questions of security, of collective security, can now be decided without Russia's participation," Lavrov said, originally in Russian.
What People Are Saying
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said of formulating security guarantees without Russia's buy-in: "It simply will not work. … And I am convinced that in the West, and above all in the United States, they perfectly understand that seriously discussing issues of security without the Russian Federation is a utopia. It is a road to nowhere."
What Happens Next
Trump has established a two-week timeline for determining diplomatic progress, saying both sides would soon know "whether or not we're going to solve this or is this horrible fighting going to continue."
Update 8/21/25, 3:45 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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