Russia Bombards Four Ukrainian Cities as Trump Cease-Fire Deadline Nears

Russia overnight fired about 400 Shahed and decoy drones and a ballistic missile at four Ukrainian cities—Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, Vinnytsia and Odesa—injuring at least 15 people and striking mainly energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian officials. The barrage is the latest in an expanded aerial campaign that has repeatedly targeted civilian areas during the three-year war. The attacks come as a 50-day countdown advances toward a 2 September deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal or face the prospect of tougher American sanctions. Trump this week promised to send additional weapons, including Patriot air-defense systems, while insisting that European allies finance the deliveries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes underscore the need for "systemic strengthening of defense" and more interceptors, warning that Moscow "does not change its strategy." Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War argue that President Vladimir Putin is betting he can outlast Western support by grinding out incremental gains. European Union foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed Washington’s renewed commitment but urged the United States to share more of the financial burden.