Russia carried out fresh missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and several other parts of Ukraine on Saturday, escalating hostilities just ahead of what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as a critical meeting aimed at advancing peace talks to end the nearly four-year-long war. The attacks added to the already heightened tensions surrounding the diplomatic efforts currently underway.
Explosions were heard across Kyiv as Ukrainian air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming missiles and drones. The military said on Telegram that multiple projectiles had been detected and intercepted, while the air force confirmed that Russian drones had targeted the capital as well as regions in northeastern and southern Ukraine. Air raid sirens remained active in Kyiv for nearly four hours. Despite the intensity of the attack, there were no immediate reports of major damage or power outages, and Russia did not issue any official comment on the strikes.
The latest assault followed earlier attacks carried out on Thursday night, when Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and stepped up strikes in the southern region of Odesa, home to the country’s key seaports. These renewed offensives come at a time when diplomatic efforts are intensifying, with territorial control remaining the most contentious issue in negotiations. Zelenskyy told journalists in Kyiv that a 20-point peace proposal being discussed under a US-led initiative was nearly complete, estimating it to be about 90 percent finalised.
Zelenskyy said the upcoming discussions would also include talks on a possible economic agreement, though he cautioned that it was unclear whether any deal would be finalised immediately. He confirmed that territorial questions would be a central issue, noting that Russia continues to demand Ukraine give up the remaining territories it controls in the Donbas region — a demand Kyiv has firmly rejected.
Ukraine, meanwhile, is seeking an end to the war along the current front lines. According to reports, a US-backed proposal under discussion includes the possibility of creating a free economic zone if Ukraine agrees to cede parts of Donetsk, though the exact terms of such an arrangement remain undecided. Zelenskyy indicated that negotiations were still ongoing and that no final agreement had yet been reached.
The Ukrainian president also said that a security guarantee agreement with the United States was close to completion, describing it as a potentially significant step given the failure of earlier guarantees offered to Ukraine in the post-Soviet era. He suggested that major decisions could be reached before the end of the year, underscoring the urgency of the talks.
Former US President Donald Trump, who has been involved in the diplomatic push, claimed that the peace process depended heavily on US approval. He said that no agreement would move forward without his consent and expressed confidence that his upcoming meeting with Zelenskyy would be productive. Trump also indicated that he expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future.
In comments reported by Axios, Zelenskyy said that while the US had proposed a 15-year security guarantee that could be renewed, Ukraine was seeking a longer-term and legally binding arrangement to ensure protection against future Russian aggression. He added that if he failed to secure firm backing from Washington on Ukraine’s territorial position, he would consider putting the proposed 20-point peace plan to a national referendum.
However, such a referendum would depend on Russia agreeing to a 60-day ceasefire, which would give Ukraine enough time to organise and conduct the vote. Zelenskyy said increased international pressure on Moscow was essential to move the process forward. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Ukraine’s version of the proposed peace plan differed significantly from what Russia had been discussing with the United States, highlighting the wide gap that still remains between the two sides.
