Russia and Ukraine strike each other's infrastructure despite peace talk signals

Russia and Ukraine exchanged fresh strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure overnight, despite both leaders signaling openness to U.S.-brokered peace negotiations on Thursday. The attacks knocked out electricity for over 500,000 people in Ukraine. Ukraine's Energy Ministry reported Russian strikes on facilities in six regions, including Zhytomyr and Mykolaiv, with emergency restoration underway where security permits. Russia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted 443 Ukrainian drones overnight. The escalation follows U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's Wednesday meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Putin said Moscow was ready to resume U.S.-mediated talks in November, aiming for final peace agreements rather than a short-term ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN he was open to a ceasefire but required strong security guarantees. A U.S.-announced "energy ceasefire" from Oct. 11 has failed to produce meaningful results.