US and Ukraine to Meet in Geneva Amid Ongoing Russian Attacks

Kyiv Sees Progress in Geneva Talks, Amid Ongoing Conflict

A barrage of missile and drone attacks struck Ukraine overnight, targeting cities across the country, including Kyiv. The attacks, which occurred before a scheduled meeting between Ukrainian and US envoys in Geneva, resulted in at least eight people being wounded.

According to reports, the strikes caused damage to a residential building in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, with fires reported in other parts of the city. Residents were advised to remain in shelters until the assault was over. No casualties were reported in the capital.

The attacks are part of a pattern of overnight barrages that have been targeting cities across Ukraine in recent months. The strikes also took place in the regions of Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk, with officials reporting seven wounded in Kharkiv and another in Kryvyi Rih.

A meeting between Ukrainian lead negotiator Rustem Umerov and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is set to take place in Geneva ahead of a full session of talks involving Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with US President Donald Trump before the meeting, discussing issues that will be covered in Geneva.

The talks are seen as an opportunity for Ukraine and Russia to move towards a direct meeting between their leaders. However, progress has been slow, with negotiations hitting a roadblock over territorial issues such as control of the eastern Donbas region. The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with hundreds of thousands believed to have been killed.

A Russian economic affairs envoy is also set to attend the Geneva talks on Thursday, where he will pursue negotiations on economic issues.

Source: Al Jazeera