UPDATE: Russia has launched a series of missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, wounding at least eight people, just one day before critical talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. Explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital early on October 14, 2023, with attacks continuing into daylight, causing chaos and fear among residents.
The strikes targeted multiple locations across the city, impacting neighborhoods such as Dnipro and Darnytsia. A fire erupted in an 18-storey residential building in the Dnipro district, with emergency crews urgently responding to control the flames. Reports indicate that a 16-year-old child is among those injured as destruction unfolded in seven sites throughout Kyiv.
In the surrounding Kyiv region, both industrial and residential structures were damaged, according to Ukraine’s Emergency Service. In a dramatic rescue, emergency teams freed one individual trapped beneath debris in the Vyshhorod area.
This assault comes as President Zelensky prepares for a pivotal meeting with President Trump scheduled for later today in Florida. The discussions are expected to focus on vital issues including security guarantees and territorial matters related to Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. Zelensky revealed to reporters that a comprehensive 20-point plan is “about 90% ready,” but he could not confirm if agreements would be finalized during the meeting.
Amid rising tensions, Zelensky emphasized the importance of European involvement in the negotiations, although he expressed skepticism about the feasibility of securing their participation on such short notice. The Ukrainian leader stated, “We must, without doubt, find some format in the near future in which not only Ukraine and the US are present, but Europe is represented as well.”
These latest developments highlight the ongoing conflict and the urgent diplomatic efforts led by the US to navigate a resolution, even as conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv complicate the situation further.
As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, awaiting updates on both the aftermath of the missile strikes and the outcomes of the Zelensky-Trump meeting. Stay tuned for live updates as this story develops.
