() Russian drone attacks bombarded Kyiv on Monday, hours before European NATO leaders were expected to meet and discuss America’s latest plans to send weapons to Ukraine.
At least two were killed in the attacks, including a 12-year-old boy, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At least 15 people were injured.
“Throughout the night, Russia launched more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic ones. The waves of attacks lasted all night and continued into the morning,” Zelenskyy said Monday on social media.
The attacks hit one day after Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 26 Ukrainian drones. Those salvos the latest in the 3-year, long-range war came as Zelenskyy called for another round of peace talks with Russia.
NATO meeting about Trump’s plan to bolster weapons in Ukraine
Last week, President Donald Trump announced plans to add to Ukraine’s weapons stockpile by selling American equipment to NATO allies, who would then send arms to Ukraine, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump said deliveries of air defense systems could begin “within days.”
Now, world leaders are attending a virtual meeting led by British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO leader Mark Rutte, as well as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, are expected to attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, according to Haley.
Providing Ukraine with more long-range weaponry would give Kyiv the chance to strike further into Russian territory, a move that some in Ukraine and the United States have said could help push Putin toward negotiations to end the fighting.
Asked if he intended to supply Ukraine with weapons that could reach deeper into Russian territory, Trump replied, “We’re not looking to do that.”
Trump issues 50-day ultimatum to Russia
Trump last week threatened to impose steep sanctions on Russia’s oil buyers if it does not accept a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days.
In the hours following his announcement, Trump told the BBC he is “disappointed but not done” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Sunday said Russia is open to achieving peace with Ukraine but maintained Russia’s “clear” goals are the main priority.
“The main thing for us is to achieve our goals,” he said. “Our goals are clear.”
The Kremlin has insisted that any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured.
It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces which Kyiv and its allies have continually rejected.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
