Russian strikes kill two in Kyiv region as Paris peace talks loom
Russian missile and drone attacks struck Ukraine early Monday morning, killing two people in the Kyiv region and injuring several others. A private medical facility in Kyiv caught fire, killing one person and wounding three, while a man in his seventies died in a separate strike in Fastiv. The bombardment came as European leaders prepare for a peace summit in Paris, where a plan described as '90 percent ready' will be discussed. Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said the attacks caused power outages, forcing backup systems to maintain water and heating as temperatures fell to minus eight degrees Celsius. Security advisers from 15 countries, including Britain, France, Germany, NATO, and EU representatives, met in Kyiv over the weekend. US special envoy Steve Witkoff joined virtually, though Washington's military action in Venezuela overshadowed discussions. Russia, which controls about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, insists on full authority over the eastern Donbas region. Kyiv has warned that conceding territory would embolden Moscow and vowed not to sign any deal that fails to deter future aggression. Moscow continues to accuse Ukraine of insincerity in peace efforts, while Kyiv argues Russia is attempting to derail diplomatic momentum. According to AFP analysis using Institute for the Study of War data, Russia advanced more in 2025 than in any other year of the conflict.