Early Wednesday morning, Kyiv was rocked by a series of Russian ballistic missiles, resulting in at least one civilian casualty, according to Ukrainian officials. This attack occurred just hours before a significant visit from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, marking the first visit to the Ukrainian capital by a Trump administration cabinet member. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aide, Andriy Yermak, confirmed the visit via Telegram.
Secretary Bessent's trip to Kyiv is centered around discussions with President Zelenskyy. Key topics include President Trump's request for access to $500 billion in rare earth minerals as compensation for US military aid provided to Ukraine. Furthermore, Bessent is expected to address energy concerns and reinforce sanctions against Russia's oil industry.
The timing of the missile barrage, just prior to Bessent's arrival, underscores the ongoing tension in the region. President Zelenskyy interpreted the attack as a clear indication of Russian President Vladimir Putin's disinterest in peace negotiations. Reports from AFP described the scene, including the discovery of a deceased civilian. Zelenskyy confirmed the fatality and reported four additional injuries, including a child. He noted that apartments and office buildings sustained damage in the attack.
Russia's defense ministry asserted responsibility for what they termed a "group missile strike" targeting Ukrainian drone production facilities, claiming all intended targets were successfully hit. In a related development, Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, is scheduled to visit Kyiv the following week to continue discussions regarding a potential peace agreement with Russia.
A delegation of US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Kellogg himself, are attending the Munich Security Conference. They plan to engage in discussions with Ukrainian and European officials regarding potential pathways to peace. Meanwhile, Chernihiv Gov. Vyacheslav Chaus reported that Russian forces targeted critical infrastructure in the region north of Kyiv, resulting in at least two injuries. The Ukrainian air force stated that they successfully intercepted six missiles and 71 out of 123 drones, which included Iranian-made Shahed attack drones.
