Feb 17, (V7N) -  Russia announced that its military successfully intercepted and destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones, including many over the Sea of Azov, as well as a Neptune anti-ship missile. This incident occurs amid a backdrop of renewed calls for urgent discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who are seeking to end the conflict that has persisted since Russia's offensive in Ukraine nearly three years ago.

According to Russia's defense ministry via Telegram, the air defense systems operated throughout the night, managing to neutralize the drones without any reported casualties. The interceptions took place across eight regions, specifically 38 drones over the Sea of Azov, 24 in the Krasnodar region, and 15 over Crimea.

Trump has expressed his belief that Putin is genuinely interested in halting the fighting in Ukraine. However, his administration has cautioned NATO allies that Europe may no longer be the primary focus of U.S. security interests.

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