Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Russia has launched more than 300 drones and missiles in a nighttime attack on Ukraine's power grid. The assault knocked out heating to more than 5,600 apartment buildings in Kyiv. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Tuesday that nearly 80% of these buildings had just regained heat after a previous attack. Ukraine is facing one of its coldest winters with temperatures in Kyiv dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius or minus 4 Fahrenheit. Ukrainian officials meanwhile are in the U.S. for peace talks. They aim to finalize documents for a proposed peace settlement that focuses on postwar security and economic recovery.
Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has entered active service, Russia's Ministry of Defense says, as negotiators continue to search for a breakthrough in peace talks to end Moscow's war in Ukraine. Troops held a brief ceremony to mark the occasion in neighboring Belarus where the missiles have been deployed, the ministry says. It did not say how many missiles had been deployed or give any other details. The announcement comes at a critical time for peace talks, with negotiators still searching for a breakthrough on key issues, including territory and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
A car bomb has killed a Russian general. It is the third such killing of a senior military officer in just over a year. Investigators said Ukraine may be behind the attack. A spokesperson for Russia's Investigative Committee says Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov died from his injuries. He was the head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff. Since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine nearly four years ago, Russian authorities have blamed Ukraine for several assassinations of military officers and public figures in Russia. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for some of them. It has not yet commented on Monday's death.
Officials say progress was made in urgent weekend talks on amending the U.S. peace proposal for Ukraine that many saw as favoring Russia. But the Kremlin on Monday said it hadn't seen the changes. Washington's 28-point plan presented last week caused alarm by heavily aligning with Moscow's demands in the nearly four-year war caused by its invasion. The plan pressed Ukraine to hand over some territory to Russia and reduce its army. It also sought Europe's agreement that Ukraine will never be admitted into NATO. President Donald Trump now says that "something good just may be happening" in peace talks.
Plans are on hold for President Donald Trump to sit down with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to talk about resolving the war in Ukraine. That's according to a U.S. official who wasn't authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The meeting had been announced last week. It was supposed to take place in Budapest, Hungary, although a date had not been set. The decision was made following a call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
President Donald Trump says it's possible that Ukraine can defeat Russia, but he's doubtful that it will happen. The latest comments from Trump added a fresh layer of skepticism toward Kyiv as he plans to meet again with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war. Trump on Monday said Ukrainians "could still win it" but added, "I don't think they will." Trump last month reversed his long-held position that Ukraine would have to concede land and said it could win back all the territory it has lost to Russia. But he changed his position again last week after holding a call with Putin and meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Putin praises Trump but warns that supplies of US long-range missile to Ukraine will badly hurt ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the United States that supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington but will not change the situation on the battlefield. At the same time, Putin hailed U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to help negotiate peace in Ukraine and described their August summit in Alaska as productive. Speaking Thursday at a forum of foreign policy experts in Russia's southern resort of Sochi, Putin appeared to appeal to Trump and his conservative supporters, hailing Charlie Kirk as a hero assassinated for promoting the same conservative values that Russia shares.
Ukrainian officials have led 60 foreign diplomats on a tour of damaged government offices in Kyiv. This follows Russia's largest aerial attack on Ukraine since its full-scale invasion began over three years ago. On Sunday, more than 800 drones and decoys were used in the assault, killing four people, including a mother and her infant. The attack hit Kyiv's main government building for the first time. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko condemned the attack as a mockery of diplomatic efforts. Ukraine and European leaders are urging Washington to increase economic sanctions on Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine, particularly while its invasion is still ongoing, would be considered "legitimate targets" by Moscow's forces. Putin's comments on Friday came hours after European leaders repledged their commitment to a potential peacekeeping force. Putin said that "we assume that they will be legitimate targets" if any foreign troops are deployed to Ukraine "especially now while fighting is ongoing." Putin made the remarks at an economic forum in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. Putin also dismissed the idea of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine after any final peace deal.
