Moscow bombs Kyiv, killing at least 9, injuring dozens as peace talks hit the rocks

At least 42 individuals, including six children, were taken to the hospital following Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, as per a Telegram post from the Kyiv City Military Administration. Reports indicate that a total of 70 people sustained injuries from the attacks.

The strikes in Kyiv resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, marking one of the deadliest incidents since the conflict began over three years ago. Air raid sirens were sounded on Thursday night to warn residents of the incoming Russian strike, which also left many others injured, according to Fox News. Despite facing numerous Russian strikes from 2022 onwards, Kyiv, as the capital and a major city, boasts better air defense systems compared to other cities, making it a less frequent target.

Rescue teams worked overnight to search through the debris of demolished structures and extinguish fires ignited by the missile strikes. Concurrently, Russia initiated a significant attack on Kharkiv, a northeastern Ukrainian city, with the mayor reporting at least seven missiles hitting the area.

These aerial assaults occurred shortly after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching a peace agreement among the involved parties. Trump’s remarks were made in the Oval Office on Wednesday, emphasizing the necessity of striking a deal with both Russia and Ukrainian President Zelensky.

The news comes amid reports that a recent US peace proposal led to a breakdown in anticipated high-level peace discussions involving foreign ministers and leaders from the US, UK, France, Germany, and Ukraine. The Secretary of State and Special Envoy opted to travel to Moscow, with a Trump-appointed envoy leading the delegation in London.

While Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and President Zelensky’s chief of staff are participating in the talks, progress towards a potential ceasefire has hit a snag due to a US proposal that allegedly includes Crimea’s annexation by Russia in 2014. Zelensky strongly opposed this notion during a press briefing in Kyiv, stating that discussions on Crimea and other sovereign territories only serve to prolong the conflict as agreement on these issues is unlikely to be swiftly reached.