Post by : Meena Ariff

Russia carried out fresh missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and several other regions of Ukraine early Saturday, sharply escalating tensions just ahead of a crucial diplomatic meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump.

Explosions were reported across the Ukrainian capital as air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming threats. Ukraine’s military confirmed that Russian missiles and drones targeted Kyiv, as well as parts of northeastern and southern Ukraine. Air raid sirens continued for several hours, keeping residents on alert, though authorities said there were no immediate reports of damage or power disruptions.

The overnight strikes came as Zelensky prepared for talks in Florida with Trump, which he described as pivotal in shaping a potential roadmap to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has since become the deadliest in Europe since World War II.

Zelensky said discussions would focus on territorial control following a possible ceasefire, the most difficult issue in ongoing negotiations. He revealed that a US-backed 20-point peace framework was nearing completion and that a separate security guarantees agreement with Washington was close to finalisation. Kyiv views binding security assurances as essential to prevent future aggression.             

Trump said the United States was driving the peace initiative and made it clear that no deal would be finalised without his approval. He also expressed confidence about the upcoming meeting and said he expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon.

Territory remains the central obstacle. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the Donetsk region, while Kyiv insists that any ceasefire must freeze the conflict along existing battle lines. Control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, also remains a major point of contention.

One proposed compromise includes the creation of a free economic zone if Ukraine relinquishes certain areas, though key details are still under discussion. Zelensky has said he may put the peace plan to a national referendum if diplomatic support weakens, provided Russia agrees to a temporary ceasefire.

Russia has issued no official comment on the latest attacks. However, senior officials in Moscow have acknowledged ongoing exchanges with US representatives, suggesting that negotiations may be approaching a decisive phase even as fighting continues on the ground.

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