Individuals take shelter at a metro station throughout Russian air assaults in Kyiv on December 27, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine’s air drive introduced a national air alert and stated drones and missiles have been shifting over a number of areas together with Kyiv. (Picture by Serhii Okunev / AFP through Getty Photographs)
Serhii Okunev | Afp | Getty Photographs
Russia attacked Kyiv and different elements of Ukraine with a whole bunch of missiles and drones on Saturday, forward of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated could be a vital assembly with U.S. President Donald Trump to work out a plan to finish almost 4 years of conflict.
Zelenskyy forged the huge in a single day assault, which he stated concerned about 500 drones and 40 missiles and which knocked out energy and warmth in elements of the capital, as Russia’s response to the continuing peace efforts brokered by Washington.
The Ukrainian chief has stated Sunday’s talks in Florida would give attention to safety ensures and territorial management as soon as preventing ends in Europe’s deadliest battle since World Struggle Two, began by Russia’s 2022 invasion of its smaller neighbour.
The assault continued all through the morning, with an almost 10-hour air-raid alert within the capital. Authorities stated two folks have been killed in Kyiv and the encompassing area, whereas not less than 46 folks have been wounded, together with two kids.
“As we speak, Russia demonstrated the way it responds to peaceable negotiations between Ukraine and the US to finish Russia’s conflict towards Ukraine,” Zelenskyy instructed reporters.
In Russia, air defence forces shot down eight drones headed for Moscow, town’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated on Saturday.
1000’s of properties with out warmth
Explosions echoed throughout Kyiv from the early hours on Saturday as Ukraine’s air defence models went into motion. The air drive stated Russian drones have been concentrating on the capital and areas within the northeast and south.
State grid operator Ukrenergo stated vitality services throughout Ukraine have been struck, and emergency energy cuts had been applied throughout the capital.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest non-public vitality firm, stated the assault had left greater than 1,000,000 households in and round Kyiv with out energy, 750,000 of which remained disconnected by the afternoon.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba stated over 40% of residential buildings in Kyiv have been left with out warmth as temperatures hovered round 0 levels Celsius (32 levels Fahrenheit) on Saturday.
Territorial management: A diplomatic stumbling block
On the way in which to assembly Trump in Florida, Zelenskyy stopped in Canada’s Halifax to satisfy Prime Minister Mark Carney, after which they deliberate to carry a name with European leaders.
In a quick assertion with Zelenskyy by his aspect, Carney famous that peace “requires a keen Russia.”
“The barbarism that we noticed in a single day — the assault on Kyiv — exhibits simply how vital it’s that we stand with Ukraine on this troublesome time,” he stated, saying 2.5 billion Canadian {dollars} ($1.83 billion) in further financial support to Ukraine.
Territory and the way forward for the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant stay the primary diplomatic obstacles, although Zelenskyy instructed journalists in Kyiv on Friday {that a} 20-point draft doc — the cornerstone of a U.S. push to clinch a peace deal — is 90% full.
He stated the form of U.S. safety ensures was essential, and these would depend upon Trump, and “what he is able to give, when he is able to give it, and for the way lengthy.”
Zelenskyy instructed Axios earlier this week that the U.S. had provided a 15-year deal on safety ensures, topic to renewal, however Kyiv wished an extended settlement with legally binding provisions to protect towards additional Russian aggression.
Trump stated the US was the driving drive behind the method.
“He would not have something till I approve it,” Trump instructed Politico. “So we’ll see what he is received.”
Trump stated he believed Sunday’s assembly would go nicely. He additionally stated he anticipated to talk with Putin “quickly, as a lot as I need.”
Destiny of Donetsk is vital
Moscow is demanding that Ukraine withdraw from a big, densely urbanized chunk of the japanese area of Donetsk that Russian troops have didn’t occupy in almost 4 years of conflict. Kyiv needs the preventing halted on the present strains.
Russia has been grinding slowly ahead all through 2025 at the price of vital casualties on the drone-infested battlefield.
On Saturday, either side issued conflicting claims about two frontline cities: Myrnohrad within the east and Huliaipole within the south. Moscow claimed to have captured each, whereas Kyiv stated it had crushed again Russian assaults there.
Below a U.S. compromise, a free financial zone could be arrange if Ukrainian troops pull again from elements of the Donetsk area, although particulars have but to be labored out.
Axios quoted Zelenskyy as saying that if he’s not capable of push the U.S. to again Ukraine’s place on the land subject, he was keen to place the 20-point plan to a referendum – so long as Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire permitting Ukraine to arrange for and maintain the vote.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy stated it was not attainable to have such a referendum whereas Russia was bombarding Ukrainian cities.
He additionally advised that he could be prepared for “dialogue” with the folks of Ukraine in the event that they disagreed with the factors of the plan.
Russian Deputy Overseas Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated Kyiv’s model of the 20-point plan differed from what Russia had been discussing with the U.S., in accordance with Interfax-Russia.
However he expressed optimism that issues had reached a “turning level” within the seek for a settlement.
