Russia and Ukraine strike each other's capitals as US envoys head to Moscow

Russia fired ballistic missiles at Kyiv around 1 a.m. local time on Thursday, 12 November. Less than 30 minutes later, journalists from The Kyiv Independent reported a series of heavy explosions in the Ukrainian capital. Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Telegram that Russia had shot down five drones flying toward Moscow.

The attacks came a day after peace talks between the United States, Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed a prisoner exchange there on Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 and 11 November, but US mediators said disagreements remain, including on territorial disputes. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were on their way to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin, and were due to travel on Thursday to Ireland to meet Volodymyr Zelensky, who will attend a gathering of European leaders. On Wednesday, Zelensky said a breakthrough in the talks to end the war could come before the end of the year.