Overnight, Russia and Ukraine exchanged missile and drone strikes, killing at least nine people as peace talks continue between Kyiv and Washington. The attacks come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to discuss sensitive elements of the US’s proposed 28-point peace plan with President Donald Trump.

Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, for the sixth consecutive night, killing six civilians and injuring several others, according to officials. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, reported that four people died and three were wounded in the Svyatoshynsky district. Two additional fatalities occurred in a missile strike on an apartment building in the eastern Dniprovsky quarter.

“The Russians are deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and housing. Cynical terror,” Tkachenko said via Telegram.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga described the attacks as a direct response from President Vladimir Putin to the US and Trump’s peace proposals. Residents in war-torn areas, including Oleksandr Voropaev from Karkhiv, expressed skepticism about the peace negotiations:

“While they sit at the negotiating table with a pen, we are hit by missiles and bombs.”

Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Territory

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces carried out a major drone attack on southern Russia, killing three people and injuring at least 16. Russian authorities reported damage to residential buildings in Novorossiysk, Rostov-on-Don, and Krasnodar, and claimed that 249 Ukrainian drones were intercepted, including 116 over the Black Sea.

Geneva Peace Talks

The latest attacks followed peace talks in Geneva, where US and Ukrainian representatives worked to revise Washington’s 28-point plan. Zelenskyy called the negotiations a step toward making the “list of necessary steps to end the war doable,” but noted that sensitive issues remain, which he plans to discuss directly with Trump.

“Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace… millions of Ukrainians are counting on, and deserve, a dignified peace,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

Trump, posting on Truth Social, hinted at progress but urged caution:

“Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening.”

Contentious Peace Proposal

The revised US peace plan, initially containing 28 points, has sparked controversy. Critics argue that it could force Ukraine to cede territory, impose military restrictions, and bar NATO membership—conditions Kyiv considers tantamount to surrender. European allies drafted a counter-proposal that would halt fighting at current frontlines and incorporate a NATO-style US security guarantee for Ukraine.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the interim results of Geneva talks, noting that the US proposal had been “modified in significant parts,” but stressed that Russia must now engage in the process.

Russia’s Response

The Kremlin has yet to comment on the updated peace plan, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirming no US-Russia delegation meetings are scheduled for this week. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov stated that while some previous US provisions were “acceptable,” European proposals remain “completely unconstructive.” Moscow signals indicate a reluctance to make concessions unless all Russian demands are addressed, suggesting that Russia is prepared to continue fighting if necessary.

International and Regional Reactions

Countries supporting Kyiv, part of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” plan to hold a video conference following the Geneva talks. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his country’s willingness to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing Turkiye’s commitment to a fair and lasting peace.

The ongoing exchange of strikes underscores the fragile security situation in both Ukraine and southern Russia, even as diplomatic efforts continue to seek a ceasefire and lasting resolution.