Officials report two killed in Ukraine by Russian drone strike just before US talks. 28 minutes ago. Vitaliy Shevchenko, Kyiv. Fiona Nimoni. – Che stai facendo? – Che cos’e’? – Cosa? Local authorities report that two people died in a Russian drone strike on a residence in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia. The assault, occurring just before upcoming discussions between Ukrainian and US negotiators in America, also wounded two children aged 11 and 15. Talks aimed at resolving the war have been stalled since the onset of the recent Iran conflict. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is directing his negotiators to address the US move to relax sanctions on Russian oil, a step taken by Washington to stabilize global energy prices. US-mediated discussions have yet to halt the Ukraine conflict or alter Russia’s stance, with slim prospects for progress. The upcoming US talks include plans for another trilateral session with Russia and initiatives to mend the strained ties between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, who has blamed the Ukrainian leader for blocking peace. Ukraine is also proposing to share its drone technology and know-how with the US, potentially aiding operations against Iran. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, its forces have repeatedly struck Zaporizhzhia. This region is one of four southeastern Ukrainian areas annexed by Russia, none of which it fully controls. In a recent BBC interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s missile shortages, stemming from the Middle East war sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran. He claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks a prolonged US-Israel-Iran conflict to sap Kyiv’s strength by diverting American resources. The Trump administration’s recent one-month waiver easing sanctions on nations purchasing Russian oil was praised by the Kremlin but alarmed Ukrainians. The measure simplifies Russian oil acquisitions, and pro-Ukraine advocates view it as a symbolic retreat from the West’s strategy of maximum pressure on Moscow. More on this story. Why is Trump relaxing sanctions on Russian oil—and will it aid Putin? Zelensky says Ukraine is short on missiles because of the Middle East war.
