Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, emphasized that Russia's recent heavy bombardment of Kyiv is indicative of an escalation in the ongoing conflict, not a pursuit of peace. The attacks, which killed at least 16 individuals including two children, led Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, to declare a day of mourning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia has launched 1,567 drones since the start of Wednesday, with 22 civilians killed over two days, directly challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin's assertion that the war is nearing its conclusion. Merz noted that while Ukraine and its allies are ready for negotiations, Russia's actions tell a different story. Additionally, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raised alarms about increased military activities near several Ukrainian nuclear sites, highlighting safety risks. In political developments, Latvia's Prime Minister resigned after her government collapsed over issues related to Ukrainian drones crossing into Latvian territory. Meanwhile, Ukraine's anti-corruption court ordered the arrest of Andriy Yermak, a close ally of Zelenskyy, on money-laundering charges, setting bail at 140 million hryvnias (approximately $3.19 million USD).