At least 9 killed in Russian attacks in Kiev

2025-04-24 08:24:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

At least nine people have been killed in Russian drone and missile attacks on Kiev, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.

The attacks came just hours after officials said progress had been made towards ending the war during talks held in London between representatives of the US, Europe and Ukraine.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said 63 people were injured, including six children, during the overnight attacks.

"Russia has carried out a massive combined attack in Kiev," the Emergency Service said on Telegram.

Residential buildings have suffered damage, while "searches for people under the rubble are continuing," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, said his city in northeastern Ukraine was also attacked by Russia, saying on Telegram that seven missiles hit the city.

These attacks began just hours after talks in London ended and after United States President Donald Trump said he thought he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war.

"I think Russia is ready. A lot of people have said that Russia wanted to take everything. I think we have a deal with Russia. Now we have to make a deal with Zelensky," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump also said he was finding it more difficult than he expected to cooperate with Zelensky.

"I thought it would be easier to deal with Zelensky. So far, it's been more difficult... But, I think we have an agreement with both of them," he said.

Asked about reports of a US proposal to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, Trump said he "has no favorites" between Ukraine and Russia and that he just wants the war to end.

Earlier, other US administration officials said no agreement had yet been reached and that the United States could withdraw from peace talks if there was no rapid progress.

Zelensky, who has rejected the Crimea proposal, said emotions were "high" in London, but added that the meeting between representatives from the five countries was positive.

"The American side shared its vision. Ukraine and other European countries presented their positions. We hope that it is precisely this joint work that will lead to lasting peace," Zelensky wrote in X.

Trump earlier warned Ukraine on social media that it must make a deal to end the war, sharply criticizing Zelensky for stating that recognizing Crimea as part of Russia is unacceptable to Kiev.

The talks in London were already facing serious obstacles after top diplomats, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, withdrew, downplaying the importance of the meeting.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the talks included "essential technical meetings with European, American and Ukrainian officials on how to stop the war" launched by Russia in 2022.

"We remain fully committed to ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and these talks today are an important part of that process," the spokesman said.

Keith Kellogg, Trump's envoy for Ukraine, described the talks as positive./ REL