Ukraine pummels Moscow in revenge strike after huge Russian blitz – as Zelensky wants talks with Trump AND ‘crazy' Putin
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KYIV has pummelled Moscow in a brutal revenge strike following Russia's gargantuan, three-day aerial blitz.
As dozens of attack drones swarmed the Russian capital, brave Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky revealed he wants direct crunch talks with Donald Trump and "crazy" Vladimir Putin.
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Ukrainian drones struck the Kronstadt unmanned plane plant in Dubna, Moscow region
Credit: East2West
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Fires blaze in the city of Chekhov after Ukrianian strikes
Credit: East2West
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Russian air defences downing Ukrainian kamikaze drones which swarmed over Moscow and the surrounding region
Credit: East2West
Ukrainian strikes hit a key Putin microchip plant in Zelenograd district, with thunderous explosions also hitting a drone-making plant and another defence plant in Dubna.
Both strikes are seen as causing significant damage to the Kremlin's war machine, as Russian air defences exploded incoming drones to avert more damage.
Moscow's defence ministry claims Ukraine launched nearly 300 drones overnight in revenge for Russia unleashing three nights of hellish aerial strikes on Ukraine.
In the largest-scale aerial attack of the war a few days ago, Russia sent 367 drones and missiles over the border, killing at least 12 and injuring dozens.
In the latest drone blitz launched by Ukraine, there was major disruption at Moscow's major airports with all forced to close, leading to huge flight delays.
The Mikron microchip plant in the Moscow region is key to Russian defence needs amid sanctions, supplying hi-tech electronics for weapons.
In Dubna, reports say the target was Kronstadt state-of-the-art UAV manufacturing plant that mass produces multiple types of drones used by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
There were also claims of a confirmed strike in Dubna at an aviation and rocket technology plant.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has revealed that Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations - including the possibility of a bombshell trilateral meeting.
The brave Ukrainian leader explained at a closed meeting with reporters that he would want to meet directly with Trump and mad Vlad, according to the Kyiv Post.
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He said: "We are ready for the Trump-Putin-me format, or for separate meetings - Trump-Putin, Trump-Zelensky, and then all three together.
Revealing that both the American and Russian sides are aware of the proposal, Zelensky added: "It's not a question of time or place, the main thing is the substance."
Zelensky also said that if the talks are on security guarantees, he "strongly" believes "Europeans must be part of the process" as "they are the ones willing to support us with weapons and financing".
Ukraine is currently waiting for a "memorandum" from Moscow which outlines what the next steps could be in potential ceasefire negotiations as well as future peace crunch talks.
The brave leader reiterated Ukraine's desire to engage in talks with Russia "in any format, in any composition, and almost anywhere in the civilised world".
Ukraine's latest revenge drone strike came soon after US President Trump took his latest swipe at Putin, warning he is "playing with fire".
Furious rhetoric from the US president has intensified over the past few days as Russia has blitzed Ukraine and shown signs of preparing for a major onslaught.
Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Medvedev responded by saying the only truly bad thing to worry about was World War Three.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a press briefing following phone calls with US President Donald Trump
Credit: Reuters
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Ukrainian drones hit the Mikron microchip plant in Zelenograd, Moscow
Credit: East2West
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A view shows burning houses following a Ukrainian drone attack
Credit: Reuters
He said: "Regarding Trump's words about Putin 'playing with fire' and 'really bad things' happening to Russiam I only know of one REALLY BAD thing: WWIII.
"I hope Trump understands this!"
Trump's special envoy Keith Kellogg jumped to the US president's defence, slamming Medvedev's World War Three warning.
'Furthering fears of World War Three is an unfortunate, reckless comment by Dmitry Medvedev, unbecoming of a world power,' he said.
'President Trump is working to stop this war and end the killing. We are awaiting the memo you promised a week ago.'
Following Ukraine's overnight drone blitz, Sergei Markov, director of Russia's Institute of Political Studies, warned: 'Dubna became the target of a massive attack by Ukrainian drones.
'An attack on Dubna carries the threat of nuclear contamination of large areas.'
Russia carried on its onslaught on Ukraine, aiming Iskander missiles at Kremenchug, and drones at Poltava region, overnight.
Residents in Poltava heard sonic booms from missiles exceeding the speed of sound.
Soon, Britain's state-of-the-art Storm Shadow missiles could be used by Ukraine to blitz targets deep inside Russia, the German Chancellor indicated.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting of the Russia – Land of Opportunities Supervisory Board at the Kremlin
Credit: EPA
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US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House
Credit: Reuters
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A serviceman of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces attends a military drill
Credit: Reuters
Ukraine's key backers - including Germany, France, the UK and the US - have lifted restrictions on where the weapons they donate can be used, Germany's Merz said.
He said last Monday: "There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine - neither by the British nor by the French nor by us nor by the Americans.
"This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia… With very few exceptions, it didn't do that until recently. It can now do that."
In November last year, the US authorised Ukraine to use American long-range missiles called ATACMS against targets inside Russia.
In the same month, Britain gave the green light for Ukraine to fire our Storm Shadow missiles at Russia.
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