Russian drones, missiles pound Ukraine ahead of Zelensky-Trump meeting

KYIV, December 29 ------ Russia attacked Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones ahead of what President Volodymyr Zelensky said would be a crucial meeting with US President Donald Trump to work out a plan to end nearly four years of war.

Zelensky cast the vast overnight attack, which he said involved about 500 drones and 40 missiles and which knocked out power and heat in parts of the capital, as Russia's response to the ongoing peace efforts brokered by Washington. The Ukrainian leader has said Sunday's talks in Florida would focus on security guarantees and territorial control once fighting ends in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two, started by Russia's 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbor.

The attack continued throughout the morning, with a nearly 10-hour air raid alert for the capital. Authorities said two people were killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region, while at least 46 people were wounded, including two children. "Today, Russia demonstrated how it responds to peaceful negotiations between Ukraine and the United States to end Russia's war against Ukraine," Zelensky told reporters.

In Russia, air defense forces shot down eight drones headed for Moscow, the city's mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Saturday.

Source: gmanetwork.com