Russia Bombards Kyiv Before Zelenskyy-Trump Peace Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russia launched a deadly missile and drone barrage on Kyiv just before scheduled U.S.-Ukraine peace talks in Florida. One person was killed and 27 injured in the pre-dawn attack, which damaged homes and critical infrastructure. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as a direct message from Moscow opposing peace efforts.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Quick Looks
- Russia struck Kyiv early Saturday with missiles and drones
- 1 person killed, 27 injured in widespread pre-dawn assault
- Explosions lasted for hours as drones hit multiple districts
- Zelenskyy en route to Florida for talks with Trump
- Russia says it targeted energy and military infrastructure
- Ukraine’s air force counted over 500 drones in assault
- Residential buildings in Kyiv hit, families evacuated
- Children among the wounded, some found under rubble
- Poland scrambled jets as precaution, closed two airports
- Zelenskyy reaffirms Ukraine won’t concede any territory
- Talks to include U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine
Russia Bombards Kyiv Before Zelenskyy-Trump Peace Talks
Deep Look
KYIV, Ukraine — Just one day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida, Russia unleashed a devastating missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Saturday morning. The hours-long assault killed one civilian, injured 27 others, and caused widespread destruction across the capital, according to Ukrainian officials.
The attack began in the early hours and continued through sunrise, with explosions echoing across Kyiv as Russia deployed a barrage of ballistic missiles, drones, and hypersonic weapons. Ukrainian emergency services raced to rescue victims, battle fires, and restore services in areas left without power and heating.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, traveling to the United States for key peace negotiations, stopped in Canada to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney before proceeding to Florida. He confirmed he would meet Trump on Sunday and emphasized that the talks would focus on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and contentious territorial issues, including control over Donetsk and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
“Today Russia demonstrated how it responds to peace talks between Ukraine and the United States,” Zelenskyy said via audio message to reporters during his journey. “They carried out massive attacks on Ukraine precisely as we move toward peace negotiations. That is Russia’s response.”
Scale and Target of the Russian Attack
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for what it described as a “massive strike” involving long-range, precision-guided weapons from land, sea, and air. The ministry specified that Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles and drones were used to target Ukrainian military-industrial sites and energy infrastructure, which it alleged supported Ukraine’s war effort.
Russian officials also stated the attack was retaliation for recent Ukrainian strikes on civilian sites inside Russia.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched over 519 drones and 40 missiles during the assault, with Kyiv bearing the brunt.
“Entire sections of Kyiv were plunged into darkness as energy and civilian infrastructure were hit,” Zelenskyy added.
Scenes of Destruction and Human Impact
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that more than 10 residential buildings were damaged in the attacks. Emergency responders worked through the debris, rescuing civilians trapped beneath collapsed structures.
In one particularly tragic account, Olena Karpenko, a 52-year-old resident, described the horrifying moment a neighbor burned to death in a building fire. “His scream is still in my ears. I can’t believe it,” she said through tears. Karpenko recounted a series of explosions, one of which struck her apartment building directly.
Among the wounded were two children, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Military Administration. A body was recovered from the wreckage of a destroyed home, and fires were reported in multiple districts, including Dnipro, Darnytsia, Obolonskyi, and Holosiivsky.
In the Kyiv region beyond the capital city, strikes hit both industrial and residential areas. In one case, emergency crews in Vyshhorod pulled a person from the ruins of a leveled home.
International Reaction and Tensions
As Russia’s missiles rained down on Kyiv, Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed two airports — in Lublin and Rzeszow — near its border with Ukraine. While no airspace violations occurred, the alert underscored the heightened tensions across NATO’s eastern flank.
The strikes come as Ukraine and the U.S. prepare to intensify diplomatic talks. Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump, scheduled for Sunday at Mar-a-Lago, is expected to tackle key elements of a potential peace plan. The Ukrainian president has emphasized the need to minimize unresolved issues during the discussions.
“I am confident there are compromise proposals — we know the Americans — and obviously, our enemy also always has its own goals,” Zelenskyy said in an audio message sent via WhatsApp. He made it clear that security guarantees top Ukraine’s list of priorities.
The United States has pledged to provide Ukraine with NATO-style security assurances, modeled after Article 5 of the alliance, which commits allies to a collective military response if one is attacked. However, many operational and legal details of these guarantees remain under negotiation.
Territorial Disputes and Red Lines
Another sensitive area in the upcoming talks concerns territorial concessions. Russia continues to push for recognition of its claims over parts of Donetsk and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility.
Zelenskyy remained firm in his stance: “Ukraine will never recognize any territory as Russian — under any circumstances.”
Although the U.S. supports a negotiated peace, any agreement involving territorial changes is expected to face scrutiny not only from the Ukrainian public but also from European allies, some of whom Zelenskyy plans to brief via virtual meetings following the U.S. discussions.
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