Russian missiles hit Kyiv as Moscow signals readiness to resume peace talks
Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv overnight into Thursday wounded six people. The attack came shortly after the Kremlin said it was in principle ready to restart trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States.
Missiles struck Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, repeatedly overnight into Thursday, and residents were told to remain in shelters. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said six people were wounded, four of whom required hospital treatment. The attack came shortly after the Kremlin signalled willingness to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States aimed at ending the war that began with Russia's invasion in February 2022.
Witkoff's meeting with Putin
Steve Witkoff, the envoy of US President Donald Trump, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday for three hours. It was his ninth meeting with Putin. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner joined the talks remotely. Afterwards Trump said the sides were "the closest we've been" to ending the war. Witkoff called the talks constructive but said important work remained.
Witkoff praised Putin for freeing US citizen Stephen Hubbard, a retired English teacher in his 70s who has always denied charges that he was a mercenary fighting for Ukraine.
The Kremlin's position
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia was in principle ready to resume trilateral talks in mid-November, after the US midterm elections, and wanted them to focus on post-war security. He added that the new European and Ukrainian ideas Witkoff brought from his Oslo meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky contained little substance. Ushakov also said a summit of Putin, Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping was being prepared for next month in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.
Zelensky said Ukraine supports resuming the talks, noting that the American side wants to organise a meeting as soon as possible.
Attacks and diplomacy
Kyiv said Russian attacks killed at least four people on Wednesday, including two in the capital. Russian authorities said they intercepted drones overnight, including more than 160 heading toward Moscow. Trump has also delayed sanctions on Russia, defending the decision as necessary to secure Hubbard's release.
