Russia and Ukraine resumed heavy overnight exchanges on Thursday, with at least seven people killed on the Ukrainian side, just hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg. The renewed violence underscored the fragility of diplomatic efforts, even as Washington and Moscow described the discussions as constructive.
In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram that strikes had wounded 15 people in the capital, eight of whom were hospitalised. He also said that metro infrastructure at the Pivdenny Bridge had been damaged, restricting traffic between parts of the city. Ukraine's air force issued repeated warnings throughout the night of "ballistic missiles towards Kyiv" and the presence of fighter jets, urging residents to remain in shelters.
By Thursday morning, the air force said it had shot down 181 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles, though it cautioned that more strike drones remained in the air. In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people had been wounded during a barrage of 630 drones aimed at the region, with 163 approaching the capital. Most were intercepted, he added.
Diplomatic overtures and their limits
The attacks came shortly after Witkoff's meeting with Putin, which followed a "positive" encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. President Donald Trump claimed the two sides were "the closest we've been" to ending the conflict, though no breakthrough was announced. The Kremlin said it was "in principle" willing to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, potentially in mid-November after the US midterm elections. Ukraine has also backed renewed trilateral negotiations, with Zelenskyy saying Kyiv wanted a meeting as soon as possible.
Witkoff described his talks with Putin as "constructive" but acknowledged that "important work" remained. Following the discussions, Russia agreed to release US citizen Stephen Hubbard, a retired teacher convicted by Russia of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine—allegations he has denied. Trump said he had delayed further sanctions on Russia to help secure Hubbard's release.
In a separate move, Trump struck a fresh agreement with Russia to sell diesel, aimed at reducing fuel prices that have risen during the wider Middle East conflict. The deal has drawn criticism from Kyiv and several European governments, who see it as undermining pressure on Moscow.
The overnight attacks and the ongoing diplomatic dance highlight the deep uncertainty that persists across the continent. European leaders have watched with growing concern as Washington's approach shifts, with some accusing the Trump administration of pressing Ukraine to surrender on Putin's terms. The EU's top diplomat has voiced such concerns, while others note that Europe is holding its course despite the transatlantic rift.
Meanwhile, the human cost continues to mount. The seven deaths overnight are a stark reminder that the war grinds on, even as diplomatic channels reopen. For Ukrainians, the nightly sirens and missile warnings have become a grim routine, and the damage to critical infrastructure like the Pivdenny Bridge adds to the daily challenges of life in a city under siege.
In Brussels, EU officials are grappling with the broader implications of the conflict, from budgetary pressures as funding gaps widen to the growing migration from Russia to the bloc. The war has also reshaped security priorities, as seen in the EU's Arctic strategy, which now focuses on security amid Russian and Chinese activity.
As the sun rose over Kyiv, residents emerged from shelters to assess the damage. The city's metro system, a lifeline for millions, was partially disrupted. Emergency crews worked to restore services, while the air force continued to track remaining drones. The night's events were a sobering counterpoint to the optimistic statements from Washington and Moscow, reminding all that the path to peace remains fraught with peril.
