Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine just one day before President Vladimir Putin's scheduled phone call with US President Donald Trump.

At the same time, Ukraine's intelligence agency HUR reported that Russia plans to test-launch a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Monday evening.

Tensions Rise Ahead of Peace Talks

The drone attack and missile test come just before Trump’s call with Putin, part of U.S. efforts to push for peace between Russia and Ukraine. After speaking to Putin, Trump said he would also call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leaders of NATO countries.

Meanwhile, Russia has increased its military aggression. In response, European leaders warned of fresh sanctions if Moscow refuses peace. On Saturday, Trump announced his call with Putin will happen at 10 a.m. ET (7:30 p.m. IST) on Monday. He emphasized that peace remains his key priority.

Before the call, Trump spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Together, they urged Putin to accept the proposed ceasefire.

French President Macron said, “Putin must show he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and backed by Ukraine and Europe.”

Similarly, UK Prime Minister Starmer stated, “We discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and for President Putin to take peace talks seriously.” He added that they also discussed sanctions if Russia “failed to engage seriously in a ceasefire and peace talks.”

Putin Rejects Peace, Ukraine Cooperates

So far, Putin has rejected all three of Trump’s ceasefire proposals. These include a 30-day nationwide truce, a ceasefire on energy infrastructure, and a ceasefire in the Black Sea region.

In contrast, Ukraine accepted all three. However, Trump and his allies have repeatedly criticized Ukraine and made several inaccurate accusations.

Russia Sends 273 Drones in Overnight Raid

Overnight, Russia launched 273 drones into Ukrainian territory. The targets included Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions, according to Ukraine’s air force.

Out of these, Ukrainian forces shot down 88 drones. Additionally, 128 disappeared from radar, likely due to electronic jamming systems.  According to The New York Times, most drones aimed at Kyiv. The city’s skies lit up as air defenses responded.

The attack killed a 28-year-old woman and injured four others, including a child. Although the damage was limited, this attack marks an escalation. Russia has increased drone strikes even as peace efforts continue.

Previously, Russia set a record on February 23 by launching 263 drones. Now, it has broken that record. Moreover, Ukraine’s military intelligence warned that Russia may soon begin regular attacks using over 500 drones at a time.

Russia Plans Missile Test After Call

Separately, Russia is preparing to test-launch the RS-24 Yars ICBM. This will take place Monday evening—just hours after Putin’s call with Trump.

Although the missile can carry nuclear warheads, Russia will use a non-nuclear training version for this test. According to HUR, this test is designed to pressure Ukraine and its European allies during sensitive peace talks.