Russia Strikes Ukraine Despite US Push for Peace Talks
Russia and Ukraine exchanged massive drone and missile strikes overnight, despite renewed US-mediated diplomatic efforts to end the war. The attacks followed US envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, where he called Putin a "humanist." Russia struck Kyiv with missiles and 210 drones, killing one person and wounding 24, while Ukraine's air defense downed 181 drones. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the strikes show "Russian 'humanism'" in action. Russia agreed "in principle" to resume trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine after November 10, following Witkoff's talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia also agreed to release US citizen Stephen Hubbard. Moscow reported 808 Ukrainian drones downed overnight, including 163 approaching the capital region.