Ukraine updates: Russia pummels Kyiv, Zelenskyy heads to US

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa reiterated the bloc's support for Ukraine as its leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to meet US President Donald Trump.

"We welcome all efforts leading to our shared objective -- a just and lasting peace that preserves Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," von der Leyen said on X. "And that strengthens the country's security and defence capabilities, as an integral part of the security of our continent." 

Von der Leyen vowed to "continue to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin" in 2026 alongside supporting Kyiv and accompanying it on its EU membership path.

Costa reiterated von der Leyen's words of support, promising that it will "not falter. In war, in peace, in reconstruction."

"A strong and prosperous Ukraine in the EU is a core security guarantee," Costa said on X. "We continue to work for a robust and lasting peace for Ukraine, in close cooperation with our US partners."

Following a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Ukraine has "Berlin Group's full support."

Zelenskyy briefed European leaders on his negotiations with the United States. 

"In close coordination with the United States, we are working toward a lasting and just peace," Merz wrote on X.

The Berlin Group consists of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia's overnight strikes on Kyiv showed that Moscow was not interested in ending the war in Ukraine, the French presidency said.

During a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Macron emphasized the "contrast" between "the willingness of Ukraine to build a lasting peace and Russia's determination to prolong the war that it started," officials said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia could see that Kyiv was in no hurry to end the conflict in Ukraine by peaceful means.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Putin said if Ukraine did not want to resolve the conflict peacefully, then Russia would accomplish all goals of its "special military operation" (the official term used by Moscow to describe its full-scale invasion of Ukraine) by force.

Earlier, the Kremlin announced that the Russian president had visited a Russian armed forces command center and received reports that Russian troops had seized the Ukrainian towns of Myrnohrad, Rodynske, and Artemivka in the Donetsk region and Huliaipole and Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region.

In its regular battlefield update on Saturday, Ukraine's military said its forces had repelled Russian attempts to advance near Myrnohrad and Huliaipole.

In response to Russia's massive overnight drone and missile attack on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was demonstrating its desire to continue the war, while Kyiv wanted peace.

At least two people were killed and dozens more were injured in a massive Russian air attack on Ukraine on Saturday, officials said. 

The attack primarily targeted the capital, Kyiv, and the surrounding region. More than one million people in the greater Kyiv area were cut off from the power supply. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced an additional $2.5 billion (€2.1 billion) of economic aid for Ukraine. 

The assistance will help Ukraine unlock financing from the International Monetary Fund to begin the rebuilding process, Carney said during an appearance with Ukrainian ‍President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stopped in Halifax en route to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida.

"We have the conditions... of a just and lasting peace, but that requires a willing Russia, and the barbarism that we saw overnight... shows just how important it is that we stand with Ukraine," Carney said as he met Zelenskyy.

Zelensky was to hold a video call with European leaders from Halifax, before continuing his journey to Florida.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on X that the US and Ukraine will establish several funds aimed at supporting Ukraine's war-battered economy.

"Our vision, together with the United States, extends to 2040, covering the key elements of an agreement on investment and future prosperity," he wrote.

A Ukraine Building Fund, a sovereign investment platform of Ukraine, a Ukraine Development Fund, and a Fund for Ukraine's Growth and Opportunities are to be created, according to Zelenskyy.

"We plan to keep developing US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. The negotiating groups are also discussing matters regarding the Human Capital Fund and support for returns," he added.

The Ukrainian leader said that rebuilding the war-torn country will cost an estimated $700–800 billion €595-680 billion). 

Ukraine's anti-corruption agency said Saturday, security services tried to prevent officers from raiding parliament offices.

However, the anti-corruption detectives were later allowed into the guarded compound where parliament is located.

"NABU and SAP, following an undercover operation, exposed an organised criminal group that included current members of parliament," the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said, referring to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP).

NABU did not reveal details of the investigation, but said the suspects took bribes in exchange for votes.  

Ukraine has recently been embroiled in a string of corruption scandals, including a $100 million (€85 million) kickback scheme in the energy sector that led to the resignation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will consult European allies on Saturday before meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.

On Saturday evening, Zelenskyy, together with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, will hold a telephone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and several European heads of state and government, according to a commission spokeswoman in Brussels.

Mark Carney is set to meet with Zelenskyy in Halifax, Canada, with the meeting scheduled for 1:05 p.m. (17:05 GMT), according to Carney's official schedule.

Donald Trump will receive Zelenskyy at 3 p.m. (8 p.m. GMT) on Sunday for bilateral talks in Palm Beach, Florida, according to the White House. 

In a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote that sensitive issues such as security guarantees, territorial disputes, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant must be resolved.

He added that the massive Russian air attack on Ukraine this morning demonstrated Vladimir Putin's "true attitude."

"And if the American side raises the question about a referendum or about elections, this certainly cannot be done in the conditions in which we live today," Zelenskyy added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was on his way to the US to discuss issues including security guarantees and territorial issues in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions with President Donald Trump in Florida.

Zelenskyy told reporters he was on plane en route to Florida on Saturday afternoon and would stop in Canada on the way to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Together, the pair will hold a video call with European leaders.

Russia launched a large-scale air assault on Kyiv and other regions in Ukraine, with explosions having boomed in the skies over the Ukrainian capital into Saturday morning.

 

Switzerland cannot defend itself on its own in the case of an attack, outgoing Swiss army chief Thomas Süssli said on Saturday.

He made the comments in an interview for Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) while making reference to potential threats from Russia amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"Switzerland cannot defend itself autonomously," he said, adding that the Alpine country relied on cooperation with other armies.

Süssli said that while Switzerland was prepared for attacks from non-state actors, it was not able to fend off "threats from a distance or even a full-scale attack."

Süssli said that only a third of all soldiers would be "fully equipped" in the case of a real emergency.

The army chief argued that Switzerland's historic neutrality would not be enough on its own to protect it from a possible threat from Russia.

"There are ​several neutral countries that were unarmed and were drawn into war. Neutrality only has value if it can be defended with weapons," he said.

He said that there had already been cases of cyber attacks, disinformation and espionage in Switzerland, although there had been no documented cases of sabotage.

Süssli said that Switzerland had previously focused on cyberattacks and other hybrid threats and needed to update its military equipment and infrastructure.

"Prioritizing means constantly weighing options. We must address the most pressing threats while simultaneously replacing systems that have long since reached the end of their lifespan," he said.

Switzerland has pledged to raise military spending to around 1% of GDP by 2032. Its spending currently sits at around 0.7% of GDP, which is among the lowest in Europe.

A third of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, was left without heating following an overnight Russian missile and drone barrage, Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on the platform X.

Kyiv is currently seeing temperatures of around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), with minimum nighttime temperatures expected to drop to -8 degrees Celsius by the end of the week, according to weather forecasts.

Sybiha condemned the "massive bombing of residential areas and critical infrastructure," adding that there had been "dozens of victims."

The minister said that the barrage showed Moscow was not interested in reaching a peace agreement with Ukraine.

"Russia’s only response ‍to peace efforts ​is ​brutal attacks using hundreds of drones and missiles against Kyiv and other cities ‍and regions," he said.

The attack comes amid a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in in the southeastern US state of Florida, with Washington saying it seeks to end the war in Ukraine through a peace deal with Moscow.

An ongoing Russian barrage has hit Ukraine with nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on the platform X.

He said that the primary target of the attack was the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with energy facilities and civilian infrastructure affected.

In his X post, Zelenskyy suggested that the attack indicated that Russia was not serious about pursuing peace negotiations with Ukraine and its allies.

"Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, [Russian 'Kinzhal' ballistic missiles] and [Iranian-produced 'Shahed' drones] speak for them," he said.

He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials "do not want to end the war and seek to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering and increase their pressure on others around the world."

Zelenskyy called for the United States and Kyiv's European allies to carry out "truly strong steps" to put pressure on Moscow and to make swifter deliveries of air defense supplies.

"Diplomacy will not work without security," the Ukrainian president declared.

Two airports in southeastern Poland have reopened following a temporary closure, Poland's air navigation agency (PANSA) said on the platform X.

The Rzeszow and Lublin airports suspended operations earlier on Saturday after Polish and allied military jets scrambled in response to overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine.

The Polish armed forces' Operational Command (DORSZ) said in a post on X that no violations of Polish airspace had been detected.