"Europe breathed a deep collective sigh of relief on Monday, as the crisis triggered by Washington's presentation of a new 28-point plan for ending the war appeared briefly to have been stabilised. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, spoke of substantial progress after Ukraine-US talks in Geneva. On Monday night, Vladimir Putin made his countermove: another massive barrage of missile and drone strikes on Kyiv. The sequence of contrasting events captured the grim essence of the outgoing year."
"Every launch jolts you unexpectedly, shaking the windows. The instant of fear quickly gives way to grim resignation: perhaps the incoming missile won't strike its target this time, sparing the city from devastation and another blackout. Soon after, a heavy machine gun opened up on a drone somewhere nearby, part of a mobile-fire group almost certainly a US-made Browning. Unfortunately, the bullets missed the Iranian-made Shahed drone it pressed on overhead, toward its destination."
Washington presented a 28-point plan aimed at ending the war, prompting brief stabilisation and optimistic statements from US and European officials. Diplomatic talks in Geneva yielded remarks of substantial progress from Marco Rubio after Ukraine-US meetings. Vladimir Putin responded with a massive missile and drone barrage on Kyiv, underscoring Russia's reliance on force. Ukrainian air defences, aided by timely US intelligence and Western systems such as Patriot batteries and F-16 fighters, engaged incoming threats overnight. Interceptions and mobile air-defence efforts, including small arms and Browning machine guns, occurred through the night, leaving Kyiv vulnerable but partially defended.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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