Zelenskyy says fresh Russian strikes show 'no change' in Kremlin position

Russia launched a wave of ballistic missiles and other strikes across Ukraine after talks between Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin. About a dozen Ukrainian regions were affected. Kyiv and the eastern city of Lozova suffered deadly attacks.

In Kyiv, strikes damaged homes, energy sites, shops, cafes and a monastery. Two people died and more than 30 were wounded there. In Lozova, two women, aged 50 and 60, were killed at a crowded market, with dozens more people wounded. Kramatorsk and neighbouring Sloviansk also faced repeated attacks, prompting evacuation orders for families and children.

Ukraine responded with a large-scale drone attack on the Moscow region, where two people were wounded. The exchange shows that violence continued on both sides even as Russia discussed restarting trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States. Zelenskyy warned that further Russian strikes could follow.

Trilateral peace talks are negotiations involving three sides rather than only two. In this case, the proposed participants are Russia, Ukraine and the United States. The format matters because Washington would join direct discussions between the two countries at war.

The Kremlin said it was willing to restart these talks with Kyiv and Washington next month. Steve Witkoff had met Vladimir Putin, and the discussions included ideas developed with European countries and Ukraine. Russia dismissed those new ideas, however, showing that agreement on the format did not mean agreement on the substance.

Putin said future trilateral talks would focus on security arrangements for a final peace deal, not a short truce. That position points toward a broader settlement rather than a temporary pause. The continued strikes, however, made the diplomatic path appear difficult and raised doubts about an immediate breakthrough.

The attack was large because it spread across about a dozen Ukrainian regions overnight. It affected both civilian areas and infrastructure. The scale mattered not only because of the immediate casualties, but also because strikes hit energy sites as winter approached.

Kyiv reported two deaths and more than 30 wounded people. In Lozova, two women aged 50 and 60 were killed at a crowded market, and dozens more people were wounded. Damage included residential houses, energy facilities, shops, cafes and a monastery in Kyiv. The report also described attacks around Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

The fighting was not limited to Russian attacks. Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow region, wounding two people there. The breadth of the strikes, combined with evacuation orders for frontline families and children, showed that civilian danger remained widespread despite renewed diplomatic discussion.

When one side launches major attacks just after diplomatic discussions, the other side may see the action as evidence that the military position has not changed. That makes it harder to believe promises of restraint. It can also reduce public confidence in negotiations.

Here, Zelenskyy said the Russian onslaught began almost immediately after Witkoff and Putin held hours-long talks. He argued that the strikes showed “no real change” in Russia’s attitude. Putin, meanwhile, said possible trilateral talks should address the security arrangements of a final peace deal, not a short truce.

The immediate result is a wider gap between diplomatic language and events on the ground. Continued attacks can harden demands, increase pressure for weapons and air defence, and make a temporary pause less likely. The article reports that hopes for a breakthrough were slim in Kyiv and European capitals.

Ukraine is asking for Patriot interceptors because Russian attacks include ballistic missiles and fast-moving drones that can reach populated areas quickly. Intercepting them can save lives and protect buildings, energy systems and other vital sites. Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s air-defence supplies had slowed.

In general, an air-defence system uses sensors and radar to detect an incoming object. It tracks the object’s speed and path, then launches an interceptor when possible. The interceptor attempts to destroy the missile or drone in the air, before it reaches its target. Exact performance depends on the threat and the system’s coverage.

The article says Russia was taking advantage of the slowdown in supplies from partners. It also reports that NATO allowed Ukraine to buy weapons through its central procurement agency case by case. Zelenskyy warned that more strikes could come, making additional interceptors an urgent priority.

The supplied article gives no detailed history of Russia’s 2022 invasion or Moscow’s initial expectations. The broader explanation comes from established historical reporting: Russia attempted a rapid campaign, including an advance toward Kyiv, but Ukrainian forces resisted and prevented a quick political or military victory.

Several factors prolonged the war. Ukraine mobilised its armed forces and population, while receiving extensive military, financial and political support from Western partners. Russia then shifted toward fighting over territory, using artillery, missiles, drones and fortified positions. Neither side achieved a decisive breakthrough, and the conflict became a long war of attrition.

By the time covered here, diplomacy was continuing alongside intense attacks. The article describes strikes across about a dozen Ukrainian regions, pressure on air-defence supplies and evacuation orders in frontline towns. Those conditions help explain why proposed peace talks focused on long-term security arrangements rather than only a brief ceasefire.