Russia Launches Missile and Drone Attacks on Kyiv Amid Upcoming Trump-Zelensky Meeting

In the early hours of Saturday, Russia launched a significant missile and drone assault on Kyiv, causing casualties and substantial damage to infrastructure. The attack began around 1:30 a.m. local time, prompting air-raid sirens and warnings for residents to seek shelter.

Kyiv's Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported multiple explosions across the city, with air defense systems actively engaged. He confirmed that at least 11 people were wounded, and several fires erupted in various districts, including Darnytsia, Holosiivsky, and Obolonskyi, affecting residential buildings and a university dormitory. Approximately one-third of the capital experienced heating outages amid freezing temperatures.

The Russian Defense Ministry described the operation as a "massive strike" utilizing long-range weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, in response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets in Russia. This escalation occurred just ahead of a scheduled meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday. The leaders are set to discuss a 20-point draft peace plan addressing security guarantees and territorial disputes.

President Trump indicated that the Ukrainian leader "doesn't have anything until I approve it," suggesting that the meeting will be pivotal in determining the plan's viability. He expressed optimism about the potential for a peace deal, stating, "I think they want to do it now, and I think that Russia wants to do it."

The sustained bombardment underscores the challenges facing the U.S.-led peace negotiations, as Moscow has shown little indication of willingness to end the conflict.