A significant Ukrainian drone attack targeted various regions of Russia, spanning from the Black Sea to central Russia, including St. Petersburg. Residents in St. Petersburg were advised to remain indoors amidst the assault. Russia's defense ministry reported intercepting a total of 376 Ukrainian drones across multiple border locations, including Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Crimea, and the Sea of Azov, with some specifically aimed at St. Petersburg, where a major economic forum was underway. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the extensive reach of their drones, stating on X that they covered approximately 1,000 kilometers to strike enemy navy arsenals and a base in Kronstadt, near St. Petersburg. Zelenskyy reiterated his calls for peace, asserting, "It is time to end this war. But Russia’s ruler wants to keep fighting." Concurrently, Ukraine faced its own barrage, with Russia launching 272 strike drones overnight, of which Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 249.

Amidst the ongoing conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a private, "good and friendly" meeting with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in the Kremlin. The details of their one-on-one discussion remain undisclosed, but the meeting garnered attention across Europe, particularly as it followed Putin's earlier suggestion that Schröder could serve as a mediator in future talks between Russia and Europe regarding Ukraine. Putin had previously indicated that the conflict was nearing an end and that trusted intermediaries would be essential. Schröder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005, has maintained a close relationship with Putin for over two decades, including holding a senior position with Russian state-controlled energy company Rosneft and involvement in Nord Stream gas pipeline projects.

However, the prospect of Schröder as a mediator faced strong opposition from European officials. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed any potential mediating role for the former German leader, arguing that allowing Russia to choose Europe's representative was inappropriate. Kallas highlighted Schröder's ties to Russian state-owned companies, suggesting he would effectively be "sitting on both sides of the table." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed this sentiment, also rejecting the idea. The Putin-Schröder meeting occurred at a critical juncture for diplomatic efforts. Just days prior, President Zelenskyy had published an open letter inviting Putin to a face-to-face meeting to discuss a path to ending the conflict, proposing a full ceasefire and a neutral venue, stating, "The choice is yours now. Enough of war." Zelenskyy believed direct engagement offered the best chance for an agreement.

The Kremlin swiftly rebuffed Zelenskyy's proposal. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin stated he saw no current reason to meet Zelenskyy and questioned the sincerity of the Ukrainian leader's appeal. The Russian president emphasized that any future settlement would necessitate extensive preparatory work by experts and reiterated Moscow's long-standing demands concerning territorial and security arrangements. These contrasting positions underscore the persistent divide between the two nations despite renewed diplomatic activities. While Ukraine expressed openness to negotiations, Russia maintained that any talks must first address what it defines as the root causes of the conflict before a leaders' summit could take place.

Attention is now shifting to an upcoming meeting in London, where President Zelenskyy is slated to meet with senior European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The discussions will focus on military support for Ukraine, diplomatic strategies, and future peace efforts, as Ukraine seeks to solidify Western backing amidst the ongoing war. The Élysée Palace remarked on Friday that "Russia, in a state of military, economic and strategic failure, is persisting unsuccessfully with a deadly war," indicating the resolve of European leaders to exert pressure on Russia.