Ukraine updates: Kyiv reports Russian barrage ahead of talks

"Most missiles launched today were successfully intercepted thanks to our partners swiftly sending part of the air defense missiles agreed upon at the recent Ramstein meeting. Unfortunately, there were also hits. Russia launched an overnight barrage of some 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine, ahead of talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators in Switzerland."

"Zelenskyy also stressed on Thursday that in Kyiv's mind, the war was more than a decade old, having begun with Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, to which he said the world effectively turned a blind eye. The bombardment, which included 11 ballistic missiles, targeted both critical infrastructure and residential areas."

"Famously a war that President Donald Trump once boasted he would end within a day of returning to the White House while on the campaign trail, the negotiating process has now dragged on for a year with few clear signs of progress. At least judging by the public comments of Russia and Ukraine from outside, the two sides' positions still appear to be very far removed."

Russia conducted a massive overnight attack on Ukraine using approximately 420 drones and 39 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles, targeting critical infrastructure and residential areas across eight separate regions. President Zelenskyy reported that most missiles were successfully intercepted with support from air defense systems provided by international partners following the Ramstein meeting, though some strikes did occur. This bombardment preceded talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators in Switzerland aimed at brokering an end to the conflict. The negotiations, led by Ukraine's Rustem Umerov and US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, continue despite limited public signs of progress after a year of discussions. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine views the conflict as beginning with Russia's 2014 Crimea annexation rather than the 2022 full-scale invasion.

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