SAEDNEWS: Russia launched missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine on Saturday, just ahead of what President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Explosions were reported in Kyiv as Ukrainian air defense systems responded, while the military stated on Telegram that missiles were being deployed. Ukraine’s air force said Russian drones were targeting the capital as well as regions in the northeast and south, according to News.Az, citing Reuters.
An air raid alert remained in effect in Kyiv for about four hours after it was first issued. There were no immediate reports of damage or power outages.
Before the overnight attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said his planned talks in Florida on Sunday would focus on determining which territories would be controlled by each side following a halt in fighting that began in February 2022, when President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine — the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
Russia did not immediately comment on the latest strikes.
Earlier on Thursday night, Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and intensified attacks on the southern Odesa region, home to the country’s main seaports.
As heavy fighting continues, territorial issues remain the primary diplomatic obstacle. Zelensky said a 20-point draft peace plan led by the United States was about 90 percent complete. He added that a security guarantees agreement between Ukraine and the United States was nearly finalized, calling it a key element after previous post-Soviet guarantees failed to prevent aggression.
“A lot can be decided before the New Year,” Zelensky told Politico.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States was leading the peace process. “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump told Politico. “So we’ll see what he’s got.”
Zelensky also told Axios that Washington had proposed a 15-year security guarantee deal, renewable afterward, but Kyiv is seeking a longer, legally binding agreement to guard against future Russian attacks.
