Russian attacks on Kyiv overnight into Thursday killed at least one person and injured 22, including four children, according to Ukraine’s national emergency service, after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss restarting negotiations over the war. Al Jazeera reported the Kyiv casualties and damage to the Pivdenny Bridge.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said metro infrastructure at the bridge spanning the Dnipro River was damaged. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected the idea that concessions to Moscow would end the conflict, writing that “Appeasement, servility, and flattery will not stop this war” and “Only strength will.”
The strikes followed Wednesday’s meeting at Constantine Palace in St Petersburg. Witkoff attended in person, while fellow US envoy Jared Kushner joined virtually. The Kremlin said Russia was willing in principle to resume US-mediated negotiations with Ukraine, but warned that Ukrainian and European proposals contained little substance, according to the report.
The earlier account of the meeting said the envoys proposed a technical-level trilateral meeting focused on security guarantees for Ukraine and Russia after the war. The Ukrainians had accepted the proposal during a meeting with the US side in Oslo, Norway, the report said. The Kremlin indicated that renewed talks could take place in Abu Dhabi as soon as next month, though the timing was not presented as a final agreement.
Russia also released Stephen Hubbard, a retired US teacher held for more than four years, during Witkoff’s visit. The gesture was welcomed by Washington, while Witkoff’s description of Putin as a “humanitarian” drew criticism from US lawmakers and rights advocates.
Russia and Ukraine also reported attacks on each other. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Ukraine launched 630 drones at the Moscow region, with 163 directed toward the capital, while Russian officials in nearby regions reported additional drone interceptions and casualties. Those claims were reported by the parties and were not independently verified in the account.