Russian strikes killed 20 individuals in the war-ravaged eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Friday night, indicating that Moscow is escalating bombardments on cities critical for Ukrainian logistics and support and capitalizing on Washington’s decision to halt military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine stated on Facebook on Saturday that Russian forces had launched two ballistic missiles into the small city of Dobropillia, and that following the arrival of emergency services, another Russian attack hit the responders. The strikes resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals in the city, as reported by Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration.

This attack followed a recent meeting in the White House between Mr. Zelensky, President Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. A planned agreement, which was expected to be signed during Mr. Zelensky’s visit and wherein the U.S. would have pledged future involvement in Ukraine, fell apart. Since then, the United States has suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, citing that Mr. Zelensky has not shown that Ukraine is prepared for peace.

On Friday, Mr. Trump was questioned by reporters in the Oval Office whether President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is taking advantage of the void left by the U.S. ceasing its assistance to Ukraine.

“I actually think he’s doing what anyone else would do,” Mr. Trump remarked.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump lamented that Russia is “bombing the hell out of Ukraine,” and threatened sanctions against Russia unless it ceased its attacks.

Nevertheless, he recollected his dealings with Mr. Putin in favorably. Mr. Trump further stated that Ukraine is proving more difficult to deal with as he urged for peace.

On Friday, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War published data showing intensified drone and missile strikes by Russia on Ukraine following Mr. Trump’s inauguration in January.

“Russia, not Ukraine, is the obstacle to peace,” wrote George Barros, an analyst at the institute focusing on Russia and Ukraine. He added, “Ukraine has proposed many concessions for starting peace talks. Russia has not offered anything.”

On Friday night, Russia launched three missiles – with Ukraine’s air defenses intercepting one – and 145 attack drones at Ukraine, officials reported. Air defense forces downed 79 drones; another 54 were lost from radar tracking without causing damage.

The shelling in Dobropillia damaged eight five-story buildings, an administrative building, and 30 vehicles, setting several buildings ablaze, according to Ukraine’s state emergency service. Another 30 individuals, including five children, were wounded.

Photos posted by the emergency service showed a five-story apartment building in flames. Officials stated that Russian forces attacked while firefighters were attempting to quench the blaze.

“Yesterday’s strike on Dobropillia was one of the crueliest in recent times,” Mr. Filashkin stated on Telegram.

Another nine people were killed in shelling elsewhere in the part of Donetsk still under Ukrainian control.

As of Tuesday, approximately 288,000 civilians remained in Ukrainian-controlled areas of Donetsk, stated the regional state administration. Some 31,000 reside in areas classified as active combat zones.