Russia, Ukraine exchange attacks on capitals as US envoys land in Moscow

Russia and Ukraine ​exchanged attacks on each other's capitals ​early on Thursday, a day ‌after peace talks ​ended and shortly before US envoys arrived in Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's envoy, greeted US ‌negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at a Moscow airport, ahead of their meeting with the Kremlin chief later in the day.

"Welcoming Steve and Jared to Moscow," Dmitriev said on ‌X, posting a picture of himself shaking hands with Witkoff near a plane on a ‌grey wintery morning, Kushner standing alongside. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed to a prisoner exchange during two days of peace talks in Abu Dhabi that ended on Wednesday, but US mediators said differences remained on major ⁠issues, ​including territorial questions.

Kushner has ⁠said European partners must be at the Russia-Ukraine negotiating table. The Russian Defence Ministry said on Telegram it ⁠had hit military and energy facilities in Ukraine as well as a munitions warehouse in the capital ​Kyiv.

Explosions were heard in Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday, a Reuters ⁠witness said. The attacks damaged energy and civilian infrastructure in the Rivne region, a local official said on Telegram. Russia ⁠downed ​five drones that were heading for Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram on Thursday. Other drones were downed in a number of Russian regions, including Rostov ⁠and Tula, local officials said.

When they leave Moscow, the US negotiators plan to fly to Ireland ⁠to meet with ⁠Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to attend a meeting of European leaders there.