Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv overnight into Thursday, just hours after President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to resume trilateral peace talks next month.
The fresh diplomatic push followed a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
During the meeting, where Witkoff requested the resumption of negotiations and praised Putin for releasing 74-year-old detained American citizen Stephen Hubbard, Putin agreed to resume talks involving Ukraine and the United States after November 10.
However, the diplomatic gesture was immediately followed by a barrage of 21 missiles and 210 drones targeting Ukraine. The attack killed two people and injured 34 others, with Ukrainian officials confirming that central Kyiv was hit with a cluster warhead.
“Russian ‘humanitarians’ have launched three waves of ballistic strikes against Kyiv since this evening,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“This means there has been no real change in its attitude toward everything that is happening.””When Russian ballistic missiles are the response to negotiations, real pressure must be applied on Russia to take other steps – steps to stop the killings,” Zelensky added, reiterating his call for urgent deliveries of air defense systems.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, none of the ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv were intercepted, highlighting a critical shortage of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles.
A separate strike on a central market in Lozova, Kharkiv region, left at least two people dead and dozens injured.
In Russia, Moscow’s mayor reported that air defenses intercepted most of the 630 drones flying toward the region overnight, though two people were injured in the rural Voronovo area.
Despite the proposed talks, which Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov indicated could take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, there are no signs that Moscow has softened its core demands. Russia continues to insist on near-total concessions, including Ukraine relinquishing the entire Donbas region, significantly downsizing its military, and abandoning its ambition to join NATO.
Zelensky, who met with Witkoff in Norway prior to the envoy’s trip to Russia, expressed skepticism about Moscow’s intentions.
“Russia said many times it is ready for a meeting and then things changed and got canceled,” Zelensky noted. “Let’s see what happens this time.”
Zelensky reaffirmed that while Ukraine remains open to negotiations, preferably including European allies alongside the US and Russia, it will not accept decisions made without its direct participation.
“I always said that we are open to negotiate in any format, any topics, but don’t speak about us without us, please,” Zelensky stated.