Zelenskyy urges truce after attack as Moscow and Europe point fingers

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed calls for a mutual halt to aerial attacks on critical energy infrastructure after Russia launched a "massive" drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities.

Zelenskyy's call to halt aerial bombardments follows an intensifying of diplomacy from Kyiv, Washington and Moscow around halting the three-year-long conflict. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his support for a truce, but the Kremlin ruled out a temporary ceasefire. It also condemned as "confrontational rhetoric" an EU agreement to ramp up defense spending.

"Ukraine is ready to go the way of peace, and it is Ukraine that wants peace from the very first second of this war. The task is to force Russia to stop the war," Zelenskyy said, just a week after being accused by U.S. President Donald Trump of not being serious about wanting an end to hostilities. 

The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched at least 58 missiles and nearly 200 drones, damaging energy facilities across the country from Kharkiv in the east to Ternopil in the west. Ukraine also said it had deployed French Mirage fighter jets - delivered last month - for the first time to repel the aerial onslaught.

DTEK, the largest private energy supplier in Ukraine, said its facilities in the Black Sea region of Odesa were targeted for a fourth night in a row. It added that gas facilities in the central Poltava region had "ceased operations" after being struck in the overnight attack.

Authorities in at least five Ukrainian regions said Russia had targeted energy facilities.

The latest Russian air assault came after EU leaders, shaken by the prospect of U.S. disengagement, agreed to boost the European bloc's defences.

EU chiefs on Friday briefed several NATO partners - including Britain and Türkiye - about the outcome of a meeting on defense of the bloc's leaders in Brussels a day earlier.

Following the crisis talks on Thursday, Antonio Costa, who heads the body representing EU member states, said: "Our cooperation with like-minded NATO partners is vital for international security. For Ukraine. For stepping up our joint efforts on defense.

"Together with our partners in Europe, across the Atlantic, and beyond, we need to work to support Ukraine and ensure a just and lasting peace."

An EU official said the non-EU leaders "expressed their determination to contribute to joint efforts in supporting Ukraine as well as in stepping up the cooperation in the area of defense".

During the meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threw his support behind Zelenskyy's call for an aerial and sea truce. Erdogan, whose country has twice hosted Ukraine-Russia talks at the start of the conflict, also said both sides must be seated at the table for any peace negotiations to work.

The Kremlin on Friday slammed the EU's aggressive rhetoric after the agreement on defense. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was closely observing the EU, saying "it is actively discussing the topic of militarization" and "positioning Russia as the main enemy." He added that the EU was "seriously out of tune with the mood of seeking routes to peaceful settlement."

Washington said talks with Kyiv were back on track to secure a ceasefire with Moscow following the public falling out between Trump and Zelenskyy.

U.S. and Ukrainian officials were expected to meet on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia with Zelenskyy voicing hope for a "meaningful meeting."

Zelenskyy will first travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said he would speak to Ukrainian negotiators about an "initial ceasefire" with Russia and a "framework" for a longer agreement.