Russia launches more than 100 drones at Ukraine as 72-hour ceasefire ends

In a significant escalation of hostilities, Kyiv reported over 100 drones launched by Russian forces into Ukraine, on the intervening night of May 10-11. This came shortly after the expiration of a self-imposed Russian ceasefire for 72 hours. Ever since the ceasefire came into effect Kyiv hadn’t reported any drone or other attack, since Thursday. But it did accuse Russian forces of multiple violations, and the Kremlin too made allegations of Ukraine of not observing the ceasefire.

"On the night of May 11 (from 2:00pm), the enemy attacked with 108 Shahed attack drones and various types of imitator drones," Ukraine's air force said.

The attacks mark the most substantial aerial offensive by Russian forces since the beginning of the invasion over three years ago.

The attacks came just after the visit by multiple European leaders to Ukraine, including the French President Emmanuel Macron and British PM Kier Starmer. The visit was to show solidarity with Kyiv in light of recent Russian aggression, which also proposed a 30-day ceasefire, backed by the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, ignoring the European-proposal, instead has offered direct talks with Kyiv later this month. Speaking in the early hours of Sunday at the Kremlin, Putin proposed talks with Kyiv in Istanbul on May 15.

“We do not exclude that during these talks we will be able to agree on some new ceasefire," Putin said in the Kremlin address. He also emphasized that these talks should aim for a "lasting and comprehensive settlement" and offered them "without preconditions.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness for dialogue but emphasized that any ceasefire must be genuine and verifiable. He welcomed Russia's willingness to negotiate but underscored the importance of a commitment to peace.

On his way back from Ukraine, where he took part in a European announcement on the 30-day ceasefire proposal, French leader Emmanuel Macron said Putin's proposal was "not enough" and accused him of wanting to "buy time."