Ukraine: Zelensky requests a meeting with Putin over prisoner swap and drone alert in Romania.

Russia and Ukraine have carried out a new prisoner exchange, freeing 185 soldiers on each side at a time still marked by intense fighting, drone strikes, and renewed tensions in the Black Sea. The exchange was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry, quoted on television, while on the diplomatic level, discussions remain open on the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow.

Raid in Ukraine and casualties in the Kiev region

At the same time, a Russian drone strike hit a food processing plant in the Brovary district of the Kyiv region. According to local authorities, four people were killed and four others injured. An administrative building within the complex was engulfed in flames, while several structures were partially destroyed. Rescuers responded to the area and managed to free two employees, although the possibility of other people inside the building was initially not ruled out.

Night attacks in several Ukrainian regions

The bombings are part of a new wave of Russian attacks recorded on the night between Thursday and Friday in several regions of Ukraine. According to Ukrainian authorities, at least 11 people have been killed and 68 injured in the last 24 hours. The Kiev military reported that Russia has launched a total of two missiles and 216 long-range drones, claiming to have shot down 198 of them. Deadly raids were also reported in the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where a woman, a 75-year-old man and another woman died in the town of Pavlohrad.

Three children were also injured in the Sumy region.

Military pressure has also spread to the country's northeast. In Konotop, in the Sumy region, three children were injured in an attack, according to Mayor Artem Semenikhin. Moscow, for its part, reported intercepting and destroying 123 Ukrainian drones overnight in several Russian regions, confirming a phase of increasing intensity in remote-control attacks as well.

Zelensky calls for more military support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the new strikes, claiming that Russia continues its "war on life." In a Telegram message, the Kiev leader thanked the countries supporting Ukraine and stated that every military aid package, every arms deal, and every new sanction against Moscow contributes to protecting the civilian population. For Zelensky, international support also serves to force Russia to end the war and engage in diplomacy.

Drone explodes in the port of Constanta

Another tension has emerged in Romania, where a naval drone was detected in the port of Constanta, on the Black Sea coast. Authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of the area, and a few minutes after the discovery, a loud explosion was heard in the port area. The Romanian Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident, specifying that there were no injuries. The unmanned vessel was located near a dock used by the Romanian Agency for the Rescue of Human Life at Sea, Arsvom.

Kiev confirms: Ukrainian drone diverted due to Russian interference

The Russian Embassy in Romania attributed the drone to Kiev, claiming it was a Ukrainian naval vessel used to attack civilian vessels and threaten the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian Navy later confirmed that the drone was Ukrainian, but explained that the vessel had lost control during operations in the Black Sea due to Russian electronic warfare. Kiev added that it had provided the Romanian Navy with the necessary information to prevent civilian casualties.

Bucharest strengthens coastal alert

Following the explosion, the Romanian Civil Defense evacuated the entire coastal area of ​​Constanta, fearing the possible presence of further drones. The head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, explained that a helicopter was sent to reconnoitre the coast and that a Black Hawk was sent from Tulcea. Authorities clarified that these were not panic-driven measures, but rather a preventative procedure to avoid further risks in the event of further explosions.

Romania has already been hit by previous accidents

The incident comes just days after another serious incident in eastern Romania, when a Russian Geran-2 drone crashed into a residential building in Galați, causing an explosion, a fire, and minor injuries to two people. Following that incident, Bucharest closed the Russian Consulate General in Constanta and expelled the consul general, blaming Moscow for the incident.

Costa and von der Leyen: solidarity with Romania

European Council President Antonio Costa expressed his full solidarity and support for Romania following the drone explosion in the port of Constanta, calling it the third serious security incident in the country in recent weeks. Costa linked these incidents to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the European response must match the urgency, recalling the EU's investments in counter-drone and air defense capabilities and the role of the Safe instrument in strengthening Romania and the European Union.

Zelensky's letter to Putin

On the diplomatic level, the European Commission called Zelensky's open letter to Vladimir Putin a further demonstration of Ukraine's interest in negotiations. Kiev proposed a direct meeting between the two leaders and a complete ceasefire for the duration of the talks. Zelensky argued that the war must end through direct dialogue, with guarantees that prevent a resumption of the conflict, and identified Switzerland, Turkey, and Arab countries as possible venues for a summit.

Macron: Europe must sit down at the table

French President Emmanuel Macron called Zelensky's letter a good initiative and reiterated his support for direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. According to Macron, Ukraine and Russia are the only parties capable of developing a ceasefire and a peace plan, but Europeans must be able to contribute to the diplomatic process. The French president emphasized that Europe, as one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine's war effort, will eventually have to sit at the negotiating table.

Putin and the Kremlin's position

From Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian troops are advancing along the entire front and that the offensive is continuing daily. The Kremlin leader maintained that Russia is willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine based on discussions with Donald Trump in Anchorage, but also highlighted Russian control over Donbass as a key issue. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov also stated that Zelensky could travel to Moscow to meet with Putin "at any time," a prospect Kiev has so far ruled out.

Trump welcomes the possibility of a meeting

US President Donald Trump also commented on the possibility of a direct confrontation between Zelensky and Putin, expressing his support for a meeting between the two leaders. Trump stated that it would be positive if the presidents of Ukraine and Russia met and argued that both should accept compromises. Meanwhile, a bipartisan measure was approved in the United States to provide up to $8 billion in new aid to Ukraine and impose additional sanctions against Russia's energy and financial sectors.

Zaporizhzhia and the nuclear risk

On the energy security front, the IAEA announced a localized ceasefire near the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant to allow for repairs to power lines and reduce the risk of an accident. The plant remains one of the most sensitive points in the conflict, as any damage to the power supply infrastructure could increase the safety risks of the facility.

Starmer raises the alarm again for NATO

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer cited intelligence assessments from the UK and other NATO countries that a Russian attack on the alliance could occur as early as 2030. Starmer linked this prospect to the need to increase defense investment, while British Chief of the Air Staff Richard Knighton called the current phase one of the most dangerous for the UK's security in decades.

A war between military escalation and diplomatic attempts

This new day of war paints a picture marked by two parallel movements: on the one hand, the intensification of attacks with drones, missiles, and unmanned naval vessels; on the other, attempts to reopen a space for negotiations between Kiev and Moscow. The prisoner exchange confirms that channels of communication still exist, but the raids in Ukraine, the alarm in Romania, and the attacks in the Sea of ​​Azov demonstrate how the conflict continues to spread beyond the front lines.