Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday accused Russia of launching a “deliberate” attack on an American-owned facility in his country, amid signs that the Kremlin is slow-walking a peace deal to end the years-long conflict.
“In Mukachevo, the Russians practically burned down an American company producing electronics—home appliances, nothing military. The Russians knew exactly where they lobbed the missiles,” Zelensky wrote in a post on social platform X.
“We believe this was a deliberate attack against American property and investments in Ukraine,” he continued.
The Texas-based electronics manufacturing company, Flex Ltd., confirmed its facility in Mukachevo, Ukraine, was damaged early Thursday in a missile strike, which injured “a few employees and contractors.”
Zelensky underscored the relevance of the timing of the attack — less than a week after the Russian leader met with President Trump in Alaska and just days after Zelensky and European leaders huddled at the White House to discuss next steps toward a peace deal.
“Telling attack, right as the world awaits a clear answer from Russia on negotiations to end the war,” he said.
Zelensky noted that the potential next steps that Trump laid out — a bilateral meeting with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a trilateral meeting that Trump would join — were discussed in Washington and in a phone call between Trump and Putin.
Zelensky said Putin appeared to be “trying to wriggle out” of a meeting to end the war in Ukraine.
“Now, the signals coming from Russia are simply outrageous,” Zelensky said. “They are trying to wriggle out of holding a meeting. They don’t want to end this war. They continue their massive attacks on Ukraine and their ferocious assaults along the frontline.”
Zelensky pointed to the attack on the American company and to the proximity of the strikes to NATO borders as “not accidents” but “Russian impudence.”
“We expect our partners to respond in a principled manner,” Zelensky said. “This war must be brought to an end. Pressure must be exerted on Russia to end the war. Putin understands nothing but force and pressure.”
He nodded to Trump’s musings earlier Thursday about Ukraine launching an offensive inside Russia, saying the U.S. president is “absolutely right—this must be done not only in defense.”
Trump earlier this month had called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and threatened harsh sanctions on Russia, but he largely dropped those demands after meeting with Putin in Alaska last week, instead pushing for a comprehensive peace deal.
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