Russian missiles strike Kyiv, injuring six amid peace talk tensions

Russian missiles struck Kyiv overnight, wounding six people and forcing thousands of residents into shelters, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. The attacks came just hours after Moscow announced it was ready to resume US‑mediated peace talks aimed at ending the war that began with Russia’s full‑scale invasion in February 2022.

The strike raises questions about Moscow’s sincerity. In recent weeks Russia has faced mounting pressure from new U.S. sanctions, a series of Ukrainian counter‑offensives in the east, and growing fatigue among its own population. The Kremlin’s statement on Thursday said it was “open to dialogue” but warned that any talks must respect Russia’s security concerns and the results of the 2022 annexation referendums. Former President Donald Trump, speaking on a news program, claimed the negotiations were “closer than ever,” although he is no longer in office and his remarks do not reflect official U.S. policy. Kyiv’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rejected the notion that missile attacks could coexist with genuine peace overtures, calling the strikes “a blatant violation of any cease‑fire spirit.”

International reaction was swift. The United Nations condemned the attack as a breach of international humanitarian law, and the European Union called for an immediate halt to all hostilities before any talks can proceed. The United States, through Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said the strikes “undermine any credible path to peace” and urged Russia to cease all offensive actions. Analysts say the next round of talks, scheduled to begin in Geneva next week, will now be under intense scrutiny. If the violence continues, diplomatic momentum could evaporate, leaving both sides further entrenched and the civilian population of Ukraine exposed to more danger.