Zelenskyy on drone strikes Results and diplomacy

Date unknown

Answering BBC correspondent Paul Adams on June 2, Zelenskyy says the previous day’s Operation Spiderweb struck more than forty Russian military targets, was independently carried out by Ukraine after about eighteen months’ preparation and restored allies’ confidence. He contrasts it with an earlier battlefield operation in occupied Ukraine using four hundred drones simultaneously, giving a more-than-forty figure while listing artillery, air defence, armour and tanks as destroyed after roughly three months’ preparation. Answering ABC’s Martha Raddatz, he describes Russian offensives near Sumy and Pokrovsk, argues that the strategic strike reduces Russia’s capabilities and dismisses concerns about angering Russia by citing its preceding mass attacks. He hopes Trump will support sanctions and a ceasefire, then describes a planned US team visit to discuss a proposed free-trade agreement and paid weapons deal, with no agreement concluded. In a later return, POLITICO’s Veronika Melkozerova asks whether Spiderweb changed Russian negotiators’ behaviour. Zelenskyy relays alleged Russian complaints about threats, expresses surprise and says he was told they were somewhat calmer but still brazen. Damage totals, diplomatic effects and demeanour are his claims or reported impressions.

In his June 2 briefing Zelenskyy describes an earlier Ukrainian operation in occupied Ukrainian territory in which four hundred drones struck simultaneously. He gives a more-than-forty figure while listing artillery, air defence, armour and tanks as destroyed, and says preparation took roughly three months. The original count wording is ambiguous about equipment units versus kinds; retain his attributed loss claim without settling that category. He distinguishes this battlefield operation from June 1's Spiderweb strike on Russian territory. Its exact calendar date, battlefield locality and independently verified losses remain unestablished.