Russians readying themselves for a decisive clash

The United States and the European Union (EU) are set to intensify their economic pressure on Russia, with a meeting scheduled today in Washington between several European officials led by EU sanctions chief David O'Sullivan and the US Treasury Department.

The discussions centre around various forms of economic sanctions against Russia, including new ones, as the US seeks to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, has called for EU support to increase the pressure on Moscow.

The escalation comes after a record-breaking attack on Ukrainian cities, where more than 800 combat drones were used, according to the air force in Kyiv. This is the highest number recorded since the start of the conflict over three and a half years ago. The attack resulted in four deaths and dozens of injuries, as reported officially.

India is the only trading partner of Russia against which the US has imposed tariffs in this context. The US has imposed additional tariffs of 25% on products from India due to India's oil deals with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a global response against these attacks, stating that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is testing the world to see if it will accept such attacks and live with them.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has announced another talk with Putin in the coming days. Trump plans to talk to Putin "very soon," "in the next few days." However, Putin is accused of delaying a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

Trump has expressed his displeasure about the ongoing fighting and loss of life in Ukraine. He stated that he is "not happy" about the situation.

In response to these developments, the EU sanctions coordinator, David O'Sullivan, is meeting with US representatives in Washington today to discuss further possible measures against Russia. The collapse of the Russian economy, as a result of these sanctions, could bring Putin to the negotiating table, according to the US Treasury Secretary.

For the first time, an attack also hit the main government building in the Ukrainian capital, adding to the gravity of the situation. The US sees sanctions as a means to pressure Putin for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict, but the success of these efforts remains uncertain.