In a harrowing incident on Sunday night, at least four people were killed and 17 others injured in a massive Russian drone attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Local Mayor Ihor Terekhov described the situation as devastating, stating, "Every night and every day bring new challenges for our city, new destructions and new work," in a post shared on Telegram.
Kharkiv was one of several targets in Russia's latest overnight assault, which saw the launch of 162 drones across Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian air force, they successfully shot down or suppressed 125 drones, while 37 drones managed to impact 15 locations throughout the country. The air force reported that the majority of the destruction affected civilian infrastructure and private households, particularly in the Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Sadly, the attacks resulted in civilian casualties, highlighting the ongoing toll of the conflict. In contrast, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that its forces successfully shot down at least 103 Ukrainian drones during the same period. Among these, four were intercepted over the Moscow region, with two heading directly towards the capital.
The latest series of strikes coincided with meetings held in Geneva, Switzerland, where U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials gathered to discuss a contentious 28-point American peace plan proposal presented to Kyiv last week. Critics argue that the terms could lead to a Ukrainian capitulation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the discussions as "probably the most productive and meaningful meeting" since the U.S. became involved in the conflict.
Rubio emphasized that both Ukrainian and Russian presidents would need to approve any framework and expressed optimism about narrowing differences to reach an agreement. He noted that while the process might extend beyond a proposed Thanksgiving deadline, great strides had been made toward a potential peace settlement with Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that there was still room for negotiation, stating, "One way or another we'll get it ended," while also expressing frustration with perceived Ukrainian ingratitude.
In response to the negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that his delegation held substantive discussions with American and European partners, reiterating their commitment to finding a resolution to the war. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue and noted that sensitive issues like the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war and the return of abducted children were still on the table.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia had not yet received any official information regarding the outcomes of the Geneva discussions, although they were closely monitoring media reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the new 28-point U.S. proposal, suggesting it could form the basis for a final peace settlement, but noted that the plan had not been discussed in detail with Moscow.
As the situation evolves, it remains clear that both sides continue to grapple with the complexities of the ongoing conflict. The discussions in Geneva represent a critical juncture in the search for peace, as both Ukraine and its allies seek to navigate the challenges ahead.