Russia carried out a series of strikes on Ukraine early Saturday, with at least one person dead and many others injured.
The latest attack comes a day ahead of expected peace talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump.
Air raid sirens blared at around 1:30 a.m. local time as the strike commenced, The New York Times reported. Almost 500 drones and 40 missiles primarily struck energy facilities and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Zelensky wrote on the social platform X.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed on Telegram that 10 residential buildings were struck and more than 20 people were hurt. The Associated Press reported that 27 people, including two children were hurt in the attack.
The attack comes days after Zelensky announced a 20-point peace plan amid talks with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Zelensky accused Russia of keeping the war going even as peace talks further develop.
“Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and ‘Shaheds’ speak for them,” Zelensky wrote. “This is the true attitude of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and his inner circle. They do not want to end the war and seek to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering and increase their pressure on others around the world.”
The Ukrainian leader added that the U.S. and Europe have the capability of using “truly strong steps” in responding to Russia’s attacks, with “no delays in protecting lives.”
“Many of our partners have this capability,” he continued. “The key is to use it. It is equally important to continue supporting Ukraine’s defense — our protection of life. Supplies for air defense must be sufficient and timely, especially now, when we need them most.”
Zelensky said Thursday that he and Trump would meet in the “near future” before the end of the year before confirming with reporters that Sunday was the day they plan to meet. He said that Ukrainian and American negotiators agree to 90 percent of the current plan.
This plan includes establishing a “fortress belt” in the Donetsk region against future invasions, a vote on the peace deal’s terms through a referendum and setting up a demilitarized zone for both sides to withdraw their troops.
However, Trump on Friday downplayed Zelensky’s optimism about the plan and said his Ukrainian counterpart “doesn’t have anything until I approve it.”
Putin has also warned of continuing military operations if Ukraine and the West do not satisfy Moscow’s demands.
The Russian leader said during a speech last week that he hopes the war will end through diplomacy, “but if the opposing country and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands through military means.”
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