KYIV – In the early hours of Saturday, Kyiv faced a deadly barrage of Russian drone and missile strikes, resulting in the tragic loss of at least two lives, according to local authorities. This escalation in violence occurred just ahead of a second round of peace talks, as a new initiative spearheaded by the United States aims to bring an end to the ongoing conflict this week.

Reports from the Kyiv City Military Administration, shared via their official Telegram channel, confirmed the fatalities resulting from the attacks.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 29 individuals sustained injuries due to falling debris from Russian drones that were intercepted mid-air. He also noted that the western part of the city experienced a power outage as a result of the attacks.

This latest assault coincides with Ukrainian peace negotiators preparing to meet their American counterparts in the U.S. over the weekend. An official from Ukraine’s presidential administration, speaking anonymously due to the delicate nature of the discussions, provided this information.

Following these talks, a U.S. delegation is scheduled to head to Moscow next week to engage in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a plan aimed at resolving the conflict that has persisted for nearly four years. The 28-point proposal, which largely favored Russia, prompted a swift response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who immediately sought dialogue with American negotiators. Meanwhile, European leaders, concerned about Russian aggression and its implications for their own security, are working diligently to ensure their interests are considered in the negotiations.

Trump said Tuesday that his plan to end the war had been “fine-tuned” and that he’s sending envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia to meet with Putin and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials. He suggested he could eventually meet with Putin and Zelenskyy, but not until further progress has been made in negotiations.

Zelenskyy announced Friday the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who was also the country’s lead negotiator in talks with the U.S, after anti-corruption investigators searched Yermak’s residence.

The unprecedented search at the heart of Ukraine’s government was a blow to the Ukrainian leader, risking the disruption of his negotiating strategy at a time when Kyiv is under intense U.S. pressure to sign a peace deal.

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