Monday Briefing

A resident next to his damaged home outside Kyiv, Ukraine, yesterday.Credit…Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Russia unleashed a huge drone barrage on Ukraine

Russia bombarded Ukraine with drones yesterday, in an apparent show of force only a day before President Trump is expected to talk with President Vladimir Putin of Russia about a cease-fire with Ukraine. Trump also said he would call President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, as well as leaders of NATO. Here’s what to know.

The drone barrage, in which an estimated 273 exploding drones and decoys were recorded in the skies across Ukraine, killed a woman and injured several other people.

Next steps: Friedrich Merz, Germany’s new chancellor, told reporters yesterday that he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and that Merz and the leaders of France and Britain were trying to speak with Trump before the call with Putin.

Diplomacy: Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV yesterday in private, after the pope offered on Friday to host Ukraine-Russia talks at the Vatican.

Joe Biden in Chicago last month.Credit…AJ Mast for The New York Times