🕒 Created

Volodymyr Zelenskyy attributes Russian strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil airports to potential U.S. diplomatic visits

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces deliberately attacked the Kyiv and Boryspil airports as a reaction to the possibility of U.S. negotiators flying to Ukraine. The strikes occurred as special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepared for a visit to Kyiv on Sunday following their talks in Moscow. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has taken note of the Russian move and will adjust its operations regarding Russian airspace next week. The attacks on the airports, which service the Ukrainian capital, were described by Zelenskyy as a response to the preparations for the U.S. side to land an aircraft in Kyiv. Simultaneously, Russian forces struck a civilian industrial facility in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killing five people and injuring five others. The Russian defense ministry reported that the strikes targeted two metallurgical plants used for military production. Additionally, Ukrainian attacks on the border region of Belgorod resulted in two deaths and three injuries. During the talks in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in achieving his goals and emphasized the need to address the root causes of the conflict. The administration announced that the U.S. envoys would meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss a proposal to end the war.

Sources