Russia, Ukraine Trade Deadly Strikes Amid Zelenskyy UN Diplomacy Plans

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged accusations over deadly drone and missile strikes on civilian areas, including attacks in Crimea and southeastern Ukraine, as the conflict shows signs of escalation beyond Ukraine's borders with incidents involving NATO countries like Poland and Estonia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky anticipates a critical week of diplomacy at the UN General Assembly, seeking international support for peace efforts, including a proposed ceasefire and summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though Moscow remains resistant. Zelensky has called for stronger international sanctions and enhanced military support to counter Russia's near-daily attacks, highlighting the scale of Russian strikes involving over 1,500 drones, guided bombs, and missiles in a single week, and revealing that Russian weaponry relies heavily on foreign components. European leaders voiced concern that Russia is testing NATO's response by conducting provocations that aim to divert Western resources towards alliance defense. Ukraine is also preparing a major prisoner exchange and has targeted Russian infrastructure such as oil refineries and the Druzhba pipeline, which Zelensky says is straining Moscow's fuel supplies and logistics. Despite diplomatic efforts, including meetings planned between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, progress toward ending the war remains stalled, with violence and geopolitical tensions continuing to rise.