Ukraine-Russia war latest: US and Kyiv to hold peace talks after Russia bombards Ukraine with missiles and drones

Zelensky says leader-level meeting with Putin ‘only way to finally end the war’ after phone call with Trump

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Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet US officials on Thursday to discuss the country’s post-war reconstruction, after the last round of trilateral talks in Geneva ended abruptly and without clear progress.

Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that the teams will discuss a US ‘prosperity package’ and work towards another trilateral meeting involving Russia.

The Ukrainian president said following a call with Donald Trump on Wednesday that he expected the next round of trilateral peace talks to follow in March.

"We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders' level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps," Zelensky wrote on social media.

"This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war."

Russia continued to pound Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, injuring around 20 people in the eastern and southern regions and damaging residential buildings, according to local authorities.

Ballistic and cruise missiles were directed at Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv in the east of the country, while drones attacked Zaporizhzhia in the south.

Ukraine reveal major new defence tactic in bid to combat Russia threat

Ukraine is set to significantly ramp up its defences against Russian attacks with plans to deploy anti-drone nets across 4,000 kilometres of roads in frontline areas.

*The Independent *reported previously on how drones have completely changed the modern frontline.

Learn how the anti-drone nets will work:

Ukraine reveal major new defence tactic in bid to combat Russia threat

Russia 'fires 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine'

Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning that Russia had fired 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine overnight.

“Destruction has been recorded in eight regions, with many private homes and apartment buildings damaged,” he wrote on social media.

“As of now, dozens of people are reported injured as a result of this attack, including children.”

Around 20 injured in Russia strikes against Ukraine overnight

Russia struck Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, injuring about 20 people in the eastern and southern regions, local authorities said.

Ballistic and cruise missiles were directed at Kyiv, the wider region and Kharkiv in the east, while drones attacked Zaporizhzhia in the south.

At least 14 people were injured in the Kharkiv region, including a seven-year-old boy, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram, adding that the city itself had been attacked by two missiles and 17 drones.

Four Ukrainian journalists killed working in Ukraine last year: report

Four Ukrainian journalists were killed by Russian forces last year, according to a report.

The Committee to Protect Journalists released new figures on Wednesday, finding a record 129 journalists and media workers were killed in the course of their work in 2025.

Russia's embassy in Washington did not respond specifically to the CPJ report, but referred to past Russian Foreign Ministry statements accusing Kyiv of responsibility for the deaths of more than 60 individuals working in Russian media since 2014.

Russia has previously denied deliberately targeting journalists and Ukraine denies targeting Russian reporters.

The New York-based organisation found Israel was responsible for two-thirds of the deaths last year, killing 86 journalists - claims the IDF “strongly rejects”.

Russia questions how Trump's Board of Peace will work with UN Security Council

Russia has questioned how president Donald Trump's Board of Peace would work with the United Nations Security Council, which has served as the fulcrum of collective international peacemaking since the end of the Second World War.

"The charter of the Board of Peace defines itself as a new international structure designed to replace 'mechanisms that have too often proved ineffective'," Russian foreign ministry official Kirill Logvinov told state news agency TASS.

"It is clear that this approach raises questions about how the Board of Peace will coexist with the United Nations and its Security Council, which is the only universally recognised body for maintaining international peace and security,” the Russian ministry said, posing signs of objection to Trump’s peace body.

Trump first proposed the board in September, when he unveiled his plan to end Israel's war in Gaza. Later, he said its remit would expand to tackle other conflicts globally - efforts traditionally overseen by the United Nations.

The board's mandate never mentions Gaza, Logvinov, the director of the ministry's international organisations department, added in an interview.

The US is the only permanent member of the UNSC to have joined the board. The other council members are Russia, China, Britain and France.

At least 20 injured in overnight attacks on Ukraine, including Zelensky's hometown

At least 20 people have been injured in eastern and southern Ukraine after Russia attacked the country with missiles and drones last night, causing damage to residential buildings, local authorities said on Thursday.

Ballistic and cruise missiles were directed at Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv in the east of the country, while drones attacked Zaporizhzhia in the south.

At least 14 people were injured in the Kharkiv region, including a seven-year-old boy, Kharkiv governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram, adding that the city itself had been attacked by two missiles and 17 drones.

Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov said that at least seven people were injured in the overnight attack on the city and that Russian drones damaged 19 apartment buildings, while another 500 homes were left without heating due to damage to infrastructure.

Fedorov published photographs of houses with holes in the walls, destroyed private homes and smashed shops.

The Ukraine Air Force is yet to disclose the total number of missiles and drones used in the attack on Ukraine, and the main targets that were struck.

Watch:

Russia attacks Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones overnight

Russia has launched a major overnight attack on Ukraine with missiles and drones, regional officials from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih confirmed.

The first explosions were reported in Kyiv around 4am local time, reported the Kyiv Independent as Ukrainian air defence said it was engaging incoming targets.

Russia was attacking the Ukrainian capital with both, ballistic missiles and drones, said Kyiv city military administration head Tymur Tkachenko.

He also urged the residents to remain in shelters until the air raid alert was lifted.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko also said defences were operating in the city and asked residents to stay in safe locations as the air defences continued to intercept drones.

Russians describe senior officers ordering brutal execution of fellow soldiers

Russian troops have described the harrowing moments they saw their fellow soldiers executed for refusing to obey orders.

The men report being tortured for declining to take part in assaults they describe as verging on suicide missions in Ukraine in a new BBC documentary, The Zero Line: Inside *Russia*’s War.

As the war enters its fifth year, the UK Ministry of Defence estimates that 1.2 million Russian troops have been killed or injured.

Dima, a 34-year-old father and former dishwasher repairman, said he witnessed his comrades executed on the order of a highly decorated commander and saw the bodies of 20 others lying in a pit after being “zeroed”. The term is Russian slang for executing one of your own.

“I see it – just two metres, three metres. Just murders, just click, clack, bang. It’s not a drama, it’s not a movie, it’s real life,” he said.

Russians describe senior officers ordering brutal execution of fellow soldiers

Zelensky-Putin meeting for peace talks approved by Trump

The next round of trilateral peace talks on end the war in Ukraine should lead to a meeting of the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Volodymyr Zelensky said after a phone call with US president Donald Trump.

Zelensky said Trump has backed the move.

"We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders' level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps," Zelensky wrote on X.

"This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war,” he said.

The phone call discussed three-sided talks with Russia and the United States that would take place early next month. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also took part in the phone call.

Zelensky said the two leaders discussed both meetings. He thanked the United States for its "active involvement" in the peace process and for missiles for air defence systems that were helping Ukraine endure winter-time attacks.

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