In brief
A Russian missile strike on Kyiv on Wednesday night injured six civilians and damaged multiple houses, occurring just hours after Moscow indicated it was open to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump, through special envoy Steve Witkoff, has intensified diplomatic efforts, claiming that the United States is closer than ever to ending the war. Russian officials dismissed the proposed talks as lacking substance, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains skeptical but open to a cease‑fire along the current front. The attack underscores the precarious balance between the hope for dialogue and the ongoing bloodshed.
Russian missiles detonated on the outskirts of Kyiv on Wednesday night, injuring six civilians and damaging several houses, the mayor reported.
“The attack came just hours after Russia said it was “ready in principle” to resume peace talks, a signal that the Kremlin could be listening to U.S. diplomats,” said Kiev’s mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.
U.S. President Donald Trump, acting through envoy Steve Witkoff, has said the United States has never before felt closer to an end‑to‑war settlement, pressing Russia to return to negotiations after a three‑year cease‑fire had stalled. Russian officials, however, have dismissed the proposals as lacking value, citing continued gains on the front line while Ukrainian forces report a virtual stalemate.
Amid the conflict, Moscow released the American citizen Stephen Hubbard, a former teacher who had served in Ukraine, an act that U.S. officials described as a humanitarian gesture by the Kremlin. The release has been used by Trump’s team to claim progress, though critics note that it does not address the broader war.
