At least 17 people were killed after Russia bombed residential buildings in Ukraine, hours after the latest negotiations in the United States to find an end to the invasion — which has been ongoing for years — were shortened by a day, according to reports.
Kremlin forces launched five guided glide bombs against residences in Zaporizhzhia, in the southeast of the country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X. Three children are among the dead, according to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
One day earlier, American President Donald Trump agreed to help unlock the sale of Russian diesel in global markets, following a call with President Vladimir Putin. Trump said that increasing the supply would help reduce diesel prices for American farmers, ranchers, and truckers — strategic electoral groups for the upcoming U.S. midterm elections next month.
The move drew a furious reaction from Zelensky.
“Every extra billion dollars they manage to earn from exports will be spent exclusively on purchasing components and equipment essential to making weapons, on the modernization of the ‘shaheds’, on missile production, and on recruiting even more mercenaries to fight on the front line,” he stated.
Zelensky spoke with allies on Saturday, including the presidents of Finland and France. The governments of Germany and the United Kingdom also issued statements reaffirming their commitment to maintaining strict sanctions against Russia.
Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian negotiating team shortened the talks in Miami with Trump’s envoys, according to the Financial Times, citing an unnamed senior Ukrainian official. The Kiev government has not yet commented on the matter.
The White House special envoy, Steve Witkoff, described the discussions as “constructive” in a post on X on Friday. The meetings, which also included representatives from Ukraine’s European allies and NATO, were expected to continue through Saturday.
Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Trump, raised the possibility that the United States would halt intelligence sharing with Ukraine if Kyiv does not stop the regular attacks on Russian oil refineries, the FT reported.
Russian forces launched 160 drones against Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces Air Force Command on its Telegram channel. According to the statement, some explosive-laden drones pierced the air defenses and hit targets in 14 locations across the country.
The Russian strikes caused widespread power outages in Kyiv and surrounding areas on Saturday, according to the energy company DTEK on Telegram. Water supply was also interrupted in the capital, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. The disruption was the result of a Russian attack on an energy facility near Kyiv, according to him, without detailing which target.
Zelensky said that allowing Putin to export diesel was a fragile decision by the United States, which will give the Russian leader more money to continue his war. “This only feeds Putin and gives him the capacity to fight even more,” he said in audio comments sent to journalists via WhatsApp on Friday night.
“I think our team is being used as a smoke screen,” Zelensky said. “And this is certainly not fair. This is not how partners should treat one another.”
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