Russia Bombards Kyiv, Killing at Least 6, as Trump Peace Plan Advances

Russia launched an overnight attack on Kyiv that killed at least six people and injured 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Tuesday, as diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict continued in multiple locations.

The assault targeted residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, with Russia launching 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones, according to Zelenskyy. Four of these drones reportedly crossed into the airspace of neighboring Moldova and Romania, raising concerns about the conflict’s potential to spill over into other European nations.

“This is precisely why all partners must remember that lives need to be saved every single day,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X. “Weapons and air defense systems are important, as is the sanctions pressure on the aggressor. There can be no pauses in assistance.”

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that emergency services rescued 18 people from damaged buildings in Kyiv’s Dnipro and Desnyan districts, with search and rescue operations continuing to locate potential survivors trapped under rubble. The strike comes at a sensitive moment in peace negotiations.

The attack occurred as U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva over the weekend to discuss a controversial 28-point peace plan being pushed by the Trump administration. Following these discussions, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and his team held meetings with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday to further explore the framework for a potential peace deal.

“The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the U.S. interagency as these talks progress,” said Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, a spokesman for Driscoll. A U.S. official confirmed that a Ukrainian delegation was also present in Abu Dhabi and in communication with the American team.

The diplomatic initiatives follow the recent leak of the 28-point peace plan to media outlet Axios, which has drawn criticism from many European leaders and U.S. lawmakers who view it as disproportionately favorable to Russia. The plan has become a point of contention in Western capitals, with some allies expressing concerns about the direction of U.S.-led negotiations.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) described the initial proposal by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff as a “surrender document for Ukraine that would have left it at the mercy of Russia for decades to come.” However, he indicated that the latest version, developed with input from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and incorporating feedback from Ukrainian and European officials, represented an improvement.

“We must stand on the side of freedom & rule of law,” Bacon stated on social media.

The timing of Russia’s attack on Kyiv has raised questions about Moscow’s commitment to the peace process. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for continued international pressure on Russia, stating, “What matters most now is that all partners move toward diplomacy together, through joint efforts. Pressure on Russia must deliver results.”

The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and created Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II. Russia currently occupies approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

As diplomatic efforts continue in multiple venues, the latest violence in Kyiv serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human cost of the conflict and the challenges facing negotiators seeking to find a path to peace that both sides could accept.