With 41 military aircraft impacted, the Ukrainian drone attack was described by some commentators as Russia's "Pearl Harbor." The attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 was a surprise air raid by Japan on the U.S. during World War II. Kyiv's assault follows ground advances by Moscow troops in recent days in Ukraine's Sumy border region.

By making harsh, uncompromising demands in peace talks with Ukraine while continuing to pummel it with waves of missiles and drones, Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending a clear message: He will only accept a settlement on his terms and will keep fighting until they’re met.

Ukraine’s foreign minister on Friday accused Russia of stalling peace negotiations, saying that Moscow had yet to share a promised memorandum outlining its peace terms. He said Kyiv wanted to see that document before sending a delegation to a new round of talks Moscow had proposed for Monday in Istanbul.

Ukraine performed a coordinated strike on several Russian airfields Sunday as peace talks with Russia in Istanbul were set to be held on Monday. The attack, which was supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and planned for over a year,

Low-level delegations from Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years in Istanbul on May 16. The talks, which lasted two hours, brought no significant breakthrough, although both sides agreed to the largest prisoner exchange of the war. It was carried out last weekend and freed 1,000 captives on each side.

Russia may find itself in a disadvantageous position in the eyes of the United States if it fails to show flexibility in peace negotiations with Ukraine, states Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, according to Anadolu.