Ukraine says no Russian strike warning; Rubio denies pause

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine received no early warning from partners before overnight Russian ballistic strikes on energy facilities in the Kyiv region, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that intelligence sharing had been paused.

Zelensky said Russia launched 16 ballistic missiles at the Kyiv region and more than 200 drones across Ukraine. AFP reporters heard air alerts and explosions in Kyiv.

“Another Russian ballistic missile attack came in several waves overnight, and once again, there was no early warning from our partners,” Zelensky wrote on social media.

Kyiv said last week that it had received no US warning of similar strikes, leaving residents almost no time to take shelter.

Rubio, speaking to reporters in Uzbekistan on Monday, denied there had been any suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine. “There has been no pause,” he said, and called on Zelensky to “focus” on ending the war with Russia.

US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that he was making “great progress” in negotiating peace between Russia and Ukraine, but claimed Zelensky “doesn't want to end this war, and probably never did.”

Zelensky rejected that claim on Monday, saying Ukraine had “welcomed literally EVERY attempt” by partners to bring the war to what he called a dignified end. He said Russia’s response had repeatedly been ballistic missiles, Shahed drones and killings, and criticised blocked missile deliveries for Ukrainian air defences while Russia received sanctions relief or delays.