MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Ukraine prepared a large-scale attack of its drones on Russia ahead of the March 11 meeting of the US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia to demonstrate its belligerent position at these talks, Andrey Koshkin, head of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, told TASS.
"In general, I link the surge in activity of the Ukrainian armed forces with those political events in which [Vladimir] Zelensky is taking part. I am more than sure that this attack was planned in advance and not without his active involvement," the analyst said, answering a relevant question.
"This is probably connected with the intention to highlight the position of the Ukrainian team in Saudi Arabia. [US Secretary of State] Marco Rubio has already spoken about the forecast for the results of this meeting, that they do not expect any breakthrough proposals from Ukraine," he added.
As the expert noted, the Ukrainian side believes that its militaristic stance "will help" today at the negotiations in Jeddah.
"In any case, they are focused on conducting military operations, and they have certain support forces, in particular in Europe," he added. According to the analyst, at the meeting between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, the parties will clarify "some positions." Nevertheless, these talks will not contain decisive movement "towards a settlement."
Negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and the US have started in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The US delegation is headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Walz. The Ukrainian side is represented by the head of the presidential office Andrey Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiga, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Zelensky will not attend the meeting.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 337 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russian regions overnight on March 11. Of this number 91 were destroyed over the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that air defense forces repelled the largest UAV attack on the capital. As a result of the attack in the Moscow region, one person was killed and more than 10 were injured. Residential buildings and other structures were damaged, and cars burned. The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case under the article "terrorist act" in connection with the massive drone attack.