Ukraine says Russia launched major aerial attack ahead of Geneva talks with US

"The nighttime bombardment, which included 11 ballistic missiles, targeted critical infrastructure and residential areas across eight regions of Ukraine, Mr Zelensky said. Dozens of people, including children, were injured, officials said, although authorities did not immediately publish a confirmed total."

"The US-brokered talks between Moscow and Kyiv are continuing but are deadlocked on the issue of the future of Ukrainian territory that Russia claims as its own. Ukrainian and European officials have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of feigning interest in peace negotiations, hoping to avoid punitive US measures such as additional sanctions while pressing forward with the invasion."

"Thursday's talks between the American and Ukrainian envoys were to address details of a possible post-war recovery plan for Ukraine and discuss preparations for an upcoming trilateral meeting with Moscow officials, perhaps next week, according to Mr Zelensky. He said he had also tasked Mr Umerov with discussing a possible prisoner exchange."

Russia conducted a nighttime bombardment of Ukraine using 11 ballistic missiles, striking critical infrastructure and residential areas across eight regions, resulting in dozens of injuries including children. President Zelensky spoke with US President Trump, thanking him for peace negotiation efforts. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were scheduled to meet with Ukraine's national security chief Rustem Umerov to discuss post-war recovery plans and prepare for trilateral talks with Moscow. Peace negotiations remain stalled over the status of Ukrainian territory claimed by Russia. Ukrainian and European officials suspect Putin of using negotiations as cover to avoid sanctions while continuing military operations. A prisoner exchange occurred, with Russia returning 1,000 fallen soldier bodies to Ukraine in exchange for 35 Russian bodies.

Read at Irish Independent