21-07-2025
Russia launches aerial attack on Kyiv, says it's in favour of more peace talks
Russia launched a new barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine killing at least one person and causing multiple fires in the capital Kyiv, city officials said.
The overnight attack on Monday local time occurred just hours before the Kremlin said Russia was in favour of a new round of peace talks with Ukraine but there was "lots of work" to be done before an agreement.
In the latest attacks, a drone struck the entrance to a subway station in central Kyiv where people had taken cover.
Videos posted on social media showed the station platform engulfed by smoke, with dozens of people inside.
The heaviest strikes hit Kyiv's Darnytskyi district, where a kindergarten, supermarket and warehouse facilities caught fire.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescuers and medics were working on sites across four districts of the capital.
The hours-long drone and missile assault on Kyiv overnight into Monday underscored the urgency of Ukraine's need for further Western military aid, especially in air defence, a week after Trump said deliveries would arrive in Ukraine within days..
Meawnhile, the Kremlin has said that Moscow was in favour of a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
However it said the two sides' positions were "diametrically" opposed and there was a lot of diplomatic work to be done.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks this week, and that he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks then Moscow would announce it.
"There is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far," Mr Peskov said.
"We now need to exchange views and hold negotiations on these two drafts, which are currently diametrically opposed.
Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers.
The two sides have made no breakthrough towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.
Wires
