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Russia launched an extensive aerial bombardment targeting Ukrainian infrastructure overnight, just as high-stakes discussions between the United States and Ukraine in Florida prepared for a third day. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that Russia deployed 653 drones and 51 missiles, with the majority successfully intercepted. One significant strike impacted a railway hub in Fastiv, southwest of Kyiv, resulting in the destruction of the main station building and damage to rolling stock.
Moscow asserted that its operations targeted military-industrial sites, as well as energy and port infrastructure across Ukraine. Condemning the renewed aggression, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his upcoming visit to London for a summit with Ukrainian, British, and German leaders aimed at intensifying diplomatic pressure on Moscow. President Macron emphasized the need to “continue to put pressure on Russia to force it towards peace.” He is slated to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to assess ongoing negotiations.
Millenium TV has learned that Moscow has escalated its attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector and vital infrastructure in recent weeks. Ukraine’s energy ministry reported that recent Russian assaults had affected energy facilities in eight regions, leading to widespread power outages. President Zelensky commented on the attack against the rail hub, describing it as “meaningless from a military point of view, and the Russians could not have been unaware of this.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog confirmed that the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant experienced a temporary loss of all external power overnight—the eleventh such incident since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Although not currently generating electricity, the plant critically requires external power to maintain the cooling of nuclear material and prevent a meltdown.
In Florida, a statement from US special envoy Steve Witkoff outlined two “constructive” days of talks with Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s national security council. Witkoff and Umerov agreed on a framework for potential security arrangements and explored “necessary deterrence capabilities to sustain a lasting peace,” according to their joint statement, which did not provide specific details. The statement further indicated that any resolution to the conflict hinges on Russia’s willingness to take “steps towards de-escalation and cessation of killing.” The negotiations, also attended by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, are expected to continue.
The Ukrainian delegation in Florida received an update on a recent meeting between Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Witkoff spent nearly five hours with President Putin, after which the Kremlin stated that “no compromise” had been reached on an initial US peace proposal. Despite this, the Kremlin indicated President Putin’s readiness to continue engaging with American envoys “as many times as needed.” However, Ukraine and its European allies have expressed doubts about the Russian leader’s genuine commitment to ending the conflict. President Zelensky stated he sought “full information about what was said in Moscow and what other pretexts Putin has come up with to drag out the war.”
Kyiv has pushed for revisions to the initial US peace plan, which was perceived as favoring Moscow when an early version was disclosed. An updated version has not been publicly released. Major disagreements persist between the two sides, particularly concerning post-war security guarantees for Ukraine and territorial concessions. Russia currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including significant areas of the Donbas region. President Putin, in a recent interview, warned Ukrainian forces to withdraw completely from the Donbas this week, threatening that Russia would otherwise “liberate these [Donbas] territories by force.”
Kyiv and its European partners believe that NATO membership for Ukraine, or robust security guarantees, would be the most effective deterrent against future Russian aggression. Russia staunchly opposes Ukraine’s entry into NATO, an objection echoed by President Trump, who has repeatedly signaled his disinclination to allow Ukraine to join the military alliance. The Kremlin confirmed that the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO was a “key question” addressed during the Moscow talks. President Trump described those discussions as “reasonably good,” but cautioned that “it does take two to tango,” suggesting it was too early to determine the outcome.
© Millenium TV
