Moldova, alongside NATO member Romania, has summoned Russian ambassadors following drone strikes on their territory. Russia has been targeting port facilities in southern Ukraine, near the borders with Romania and Moldova. “Shahed drones invaded our airspace, and two detonated on our soil, endangering Moldovan citizens,” stated Maia Sandu, Romania’s president, highlighting Moscow’s “criminal” offensive against Ukraine. Moldovan officials reported that two drones crashed in agricultural areas, with remnants later found at a third site. In response, Moldova plans to close the Russian Cultural Centre, which opened in 2009 and had six Russian diplomats in 2023, according to local reports. The pro-Kremlin Socialist Party condemned this action as “unprecedented and provocative,” labeling it as “Russophobia.”

In Romania, Bucharest also summoned Russia’s envoy after radar detected an airspace violation. Authorities later discovered drone fragments, finding that two drones, which “carried explosive charges,” were destroyed upon impact. “These unlawful and reckless attacks must cease, and Romania reserves the right to take necessary actions,” said a statement from Romania’s foreign ministry.

The streets of central Kyiv echoed with anger and a sense of betrayal following Donald Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin, as reported by Shaun Walker and Artem Mazhulin from Kyiv. Oleksii, 34, expressed, “There is no assurance that this conflict will conclude favorably for us, as Trump doesn’t see us as an equal partner in these discussions.” Serhii, a 39-year-old soldier, criticized Trump as “Putin’s doormat” during his previous term and stated, “While I’m skeptical about negotiating with this tyrant, we must insist on Ukraine’s terms.” Roman, 20, remarked, “It’s clear that Trump needed to talk to Putin, and direct communication should have been established sooner. I appreciate that they’re trying to find common ground, but I worry about the implications.”

From the Russian perspective, a source within the foreign policy establishment stated, “Putin has emerged victorious in the initial negotiation round”, as reported by Pjotr Sauer. The source emphasized that “a direct communication with Trump was exactly what Putin had been anticipating.” Sergei Markov, a well-known Russian commentator, noted, “Zelenskyy had urged Trump to communicate with him first before reaching out to Putin. Instead, Trump did the opposite.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that peace talks should not be left solely to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, asserting that Ukraine would reject any agreement reached without its consent. He expressed his displeasure that Trump had consulted Russia before engaging with Ukraine.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, insisted that if a deal were reached without Ukraine’s involvement, “the Ukrainians will resist, and we will stand by them.” Kallas criticized Washington for its “appeasement” of Russia, emphasizing that any agreement “behind our backs” would not be effective. “You need the Europeans, you need the Ukrainians,” she stated. “If Ukraine chooses to resist, Europe will uphold its principles. While we may be somewhat diminished if the US withdraws, Ukraine will continue to advocate for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we will be there together.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz firmly dismissed the notion of any “imposed peace,” arguing that “a Russian victory or a Ukrainian defeat will not lead to peace; rather, it will jeopardize both peace and stability in Europe, extending far beyond Ukraine.”