In high-profile talks on Tuesday, Ukrainian and U.S. officials began discussing ways to end Moscow's three-year war against Kyiv, just hours after Russian air defenses shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones in the biggest attack since the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion.
The massive attack, which spanned 10 Russian regions, killed two people and injured 18 others, including three children, officials said. There were no reports of significant damage.
Meanwhile, Russia launched 126 Shahid and other drones and a ballistic missile into Ukraine on Tuesday, the Ukrainian air force said, the latest in Moscow's repeated attacks on civilian targets during the conflict.
In the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, reporters briefly visited a room where a high-profile Ukrainian delegation met with the top U.S. diplomat to discuss ending Europe's worst military conflict since World War II.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio smiled for the cameras while Ukrainian officials kept serious faces at a table across the table as the meeting at a luxury hotel began.
Ukrainian and US officials have not commented on the drone attack.
The Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister was also present at the talks, which were accompanied by the flags of the United States, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. The officials did not respond to questions.
The talks represent a new diplomatic momentum after an unprecedented row erupted during President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House on February 28.
Ukrainian officials told The Associated Press on Monday that they would offer to agree to a cease-fire in the Black Sea to allow safer shipping, as well as an end to long-range missile strikes that have harmed civilians in Ukraine and the release of prisoners.
The Kremlin has made no public offer of compromise. Russia has said it is prepared to end the fighting on the condition that Ukraine abandons NATO membership and recognizes the Moscow-occupied regions as Russian.
Russian forces have maintained the upper hand on the front for more than a year, advancing aggressively in parts of the 600-mile (1,000 km) long front line, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region.
Of the 126 Ukrainian drones launched overnight, most were shot down over the Kursk region, which lies across the border with Ukraine, part of which is controlled by Kyiv forces; 91 drones were shot down over the Moscow region, according to reports.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
