KYIV, Ukraine — Russia bombarded Kyiv with ballistic missiles in an hourslong nighttime barrage, and the Russian military said Thursday that its air defences intercepted 808 drones fired by Ukraine at Moscow and other cities, in attacks that dampened new hopes of progress in ending the war. At least two people were killed in Ukraine and dozens of others wounded, officials said. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday agreed “in principle” to resume three-way negotiations involving officials from Russia, Ukraine and the United States, but no date was set for a meeting. Putin’s consent came in talks in St. Petersburg with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, who the previous day had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway. Representatives of those three countries held three rounds of negotiations early this year, meeting twice in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in January and February, followed by further talks in Geneva in February. However, little progress was reported beyond exchanges of prisoners of war, and deadly attacks continued. Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their terms for stopping the fighting. Zelenskyy, who says only a meeting of leaders can end the deadlock, commented on the prospect of “technical talks” between delegations: “We’ll see what happens this time.” Zelenskyy sees ‘no change’ in Moscow’s attitude Russia’s aerial attacks hit 12 regions of Ukraine overnight, killing at least two people and wounding 34 others, including five children, Zelenskyy said on social media Thursday. The Ukrainian capital endured a noisy night as 21 ballistic missiles came in three waves, he said, smashing apartment buildings, energy facilities, a railway station and the Kyiv subway system, shopping malls and businesses. One person was killed in Kyiv. Multiple attacks on the eastern city of Kharkiv and the surrounding area left one person dead and at least 13 wounded, the State Emergency Service said. Ukrainians are bracing for the winter, as a recent escalation in Russian attacks targets the power grid to deny civilians heat, light and running water during the bitterly cold months. Ukraine says Russia is stockpiling ballistic missiles for an annual campaign that Ukrainians describe as “ weaponizing winter. ” The Russian bombardment showed “there has been no real change in (Moscow’s) attitude toward everything that is happening,” Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian leader has pleaded with Washington to supply more Patriot air defence ammunition that can stop ballistic missiles and to heap more sanctions on Russia that might make Moscow pursue peace. But Trump has agreed to a deal with Putin to import diesel from Russia and waived heavy sanctions on Moscow, while U.S. officials say Patriot ammunition is in short supply. Ukrainians chide Trump envoy for flattering Putin Witkoff, the Trump envoy who met with Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, was harshly criticized in Ukraine and in the U.S. for praising the Russian leader as a “humanitarian” for ordering the release of a retired American teacher imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. The five-year anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor comes on Feb. 24. The fighting has resulted in hundreds of thousands of troop casualties on the battlefield and thousands of civilians killed in aerial strikes. Also, assassination attempts against foes of Putin have been common during his more than two decades in power. Those close to the victims and the few survivors have blamed Russian authorities, but the Kremlin has routinely denied involvement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the “brutal” Russian attacks demonstrated “what Russian ‘humanism’ truly sounds like.” “Appeasement, servility, and flattery will not stop this war. Only strength will,” Sybiha said on social media. Russia says it intercepted more than 800 Ukrainian drones Russia’s Defence Ministry said that air defences overnight downed 808 Ukrainian drones, with two people reported wounded. Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 630 of the drones were fired toward the Russian capital between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Moscow airports temporarily restricted air traffic overnight. The Russian military hit the facilities involved in making and storing drones and cruise missiles and transport infrastructure in Kyiv in overnight strikes, the Defence Ministry said. Infrastructure in the southern port of Odesa and vessels used for the Ukrainian armed forces were also hit, it said. ___ Derek Gatopoulos, The Associated Press
