Russian ballistic missiles and drones struck Kyiv between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, leaving one person dead and 22 others injured. The attacks caused damage to residential homes and a petrol station, forcing residents to seek refuge in shelters. In response, Ukraine launched hundreds of drones toward Moscow overnight.
These escalations occur as Moscow has signaled a readiness to resume US-mediated peace talks. President Donald Trump stated that negotiations to end the war are closer than ever. President Putin has agreed in principle to resume three-way negotiations involving officials from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, although no specific date for a meeting has been set.
Despite these diplomatic signals, the recent deadly strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions have cast doubt on the prospects for a resumption of peace talks. The Kremlin has expressed doubts over proposals from Ukraine and Europe, while Ukrainian authorities have warned that appeasement will not end the war.