Ukraine-Russia warfare newest: Zelensky says ‘sick’ drone assault on Kyiv ongoing forward of Trump peace talks
Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a “sick” drone attack on Kyiv by Russian forces as he is set to meet US counterpart Donald Trump to work out a deal to end nearly four years of war.
About a third of Ukraine’s capital was left without heat in sub zero weather conditions after Moscow’s air force launched almost 500 drones, largely shaheds, and 40 missiles in an ongoing strike.
The air force said Russian drones were targeting the capital and regions in the northeast and the south.
Before the overnight attacks, Zelensky said his talks in Florida would focus on the territory to be controlled by each side after a halt to the fighting.
The Ukrainian president said his peace agreement was “90 per cent ready”.
However, Trump said Zelensky “doesn’t have anything until I approve it”.
“So we’ll see what he’s got,” Trump told Politico.
On his way to the US, Zelensky hopes compromise can be found
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday he was on his way to the US for talks with president Donald Trump in Florida, where he said he hoped to find a compromise over a peace framework to end Russia’s war.
In audio messages sent to reporters, Zelensky said security guarantees offered by Washington were key to ensuring peace, and that the extent of those guarantees depended on what Trump was willing to offer.
Recap: Putin critic sentenced to six years in prison by Russian court
Zelensky talks ‘red lines’ for Ukraine in peace process as he goes to US
Ahead of his meeting with US president Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine has its “red lines” but is sure compromise can be found as he aims to discuss security guarantees and territorial issues in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk.
He continued that Ukraine would need more air defence missiles as Russia continues to bombard the country with missiles and drones – the latest attack involving almost 500 drones and 40 missiles, just days after a 600-strong drone and missile attack from Moscow.
He added Ukraine could not have a referendum under the current security conditions and strong security guarantees were needed to facilitate democratic process.
Two children among the injured in Russia’s latest attack on Kyiv
At least 10 residential buildings were damaged in the attack on Ukraine, said interior minister Ihor Klymenko, and people are being evacuated from under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Two children were among those injured in the attack, which local officials said affected seven locations across the city of Kyiv.
Watch: Zelensky plans Mar-a-Lago meet for crucial talks with Trump
Zelensky on plane to US to discuss security guarantees
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is on a plane to the US to meet with Donald Trump.
He will stop in Canada to meet close ally prime minister Mark Carney.
Zelensky will discuss security guarantees and territorial issues in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions in an effort to end the war.
What issues surround the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant? A key sticking point in Trump’s peace plan
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, is one of the main sticking points in US president Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine. The issue is one of 20 points laid out by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a framework peace proposal.
The plant is located in Enerhodar on the banks of the Dnipro River and the Kakhovka Reservoir, 550 km (342 miles) southeast of the capital Kyiv.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has six Soviet-designed reactors. They were all built in the 1980s, although the sixth only came online in the mid-1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has a total capacity of 5.7 gigawatts, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) database.
Four of the six reactors no longer use Russian nuclear fuel, having switched to fuel produced by then-US nuclear equipment supplier Westinghouse.
After Russia took control of the station, it shut down five of its six reactors and the last reactor ceased to produce electricity in September 2022. Rosatom said in 2025 that it was ready to return the U.S. fuel to the United States.
According to the Russian management of the plant, all six reactors are in “cold shutdown.”
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of striking the nuclear plant and of severing power lines to the plant.
The plant’s equipment is powered by electricity supplied from Ukraine. Over the past four years these supplies have been interrupted at least eleven times due to breaks in power lines, forcing the plant to switch to emergency diesel generators.
Emergency generators on site can supply electricity to keep the reactors cool if external power lines are cut.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi says that fighting a war around a nuclear plant has put nuclear safety and security in constant jeopardy.
‘Shaheds’ speak for Russia in response to peace talks, says Zelensky
Drones are Russia’s response to proposals to end the war, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has said following a huge barrage of missiles and drones overnight on Kyiv.
Taking to social media, he said: “There have been many questions over the past few days – so where is Russia’s response to the proposals to end the war offered by the United States and the world?
“Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and ‘shaheds’ speak for them. This is the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle.
“They do not want to end the war and seek to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering and increase their pressure on others around the world.”
Zelensky says Russia attacked Ukraine with nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles overnight
Russia attacked Ukraine with nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles overnight, targeting energy and civilian infrastructure, Ukrainian resident Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.
“If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps,” Zelensky wrote on X, calling for the US and Europe to pressure Moscow harder.
Source: independent.co.uk
