Missiles Rain on Dnipro: Four Dead as Ukraine Peace Talks Heat Up
Four people have been killed and 40 injured in a Russian missile attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, authorities reported Monday. Unconfirmed sources suggest a ballistic missile may have been used in the strike, which targeted office buildings, shops, and vehicles along a motorway. Dramatic videos circulating online captured a massive explosion, highlighting the ongoing threat faced by civilians in cities hundreds of kilometers from the front line.
Dnipro, located approximately 100 kilometers from active conflict zones, has repeatedly been hit since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Monday’s attack coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week, seeking pathways toward peace. Witkoff has met with Putin multiple times this year but has not yet visited Kyiv. Over the weekend, a Ukrainian delegation met Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Jared Kushner in Florida to discuss a potential peace framework.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the talks as “very constructive” while acknowledging that “tough issues” remain, echoing Rubio’s assessment that progress had been made but additional work is required. The meetings form part of an intense period of “shuttle diplomacy,” with US officials engaging separately with Moscow and Kyiv.
However, significant gaps persist. Russia continues to demand Ukraine withdraw from the Donbas region, a move Kyiv has categorically rejected. “If they don’t withdraw, we’ll achieve this by force of arms,” Putin stated. Zelensky responded by asserting that Moscow “scorned” efforts “to truly end the war.”
Security guarantees for Ukraine remain a key sticking point. Kyiv and its European allies advocate for protections, including potential NATO membership, to prevent future attacks. Russia opposes any such guarantees, and former US President Donald Trump has publicly ruled out Ukraine joining the alliance.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has traveled to Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, with further engagements planned in Ireland. His domestic standing has also been challenged by a recent corruption scandal that led to the resignation of his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who led the Ukrainian peace delegation, as well as the dismissal of two cabinet ministers.
Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed or injured since Russia’s invasion, with at least seven million people displaced. The conflict traces back to 2014, when Ukraine’s pro-Russian president was ousted, prompting Russia to annex Crimea and support uprisings in eastern Ukraine.
As missile strikes continue even amid diplomatic initiatives, the path to a lasting peace remains fraught, with both sides holding firm on critical issues of territory and security.
