Russian attacks kill 2 in Kyiv as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine gain momentum

Russian drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, killed at least two people in the early hours of Saturday, local officials said.

Russian drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, killed at least two people in the early hours of Saturday, local officials said. The attacks came just before a second round of peace negotiations was set to begin, as a renewed U.S.-led push to end the war gathers steam this week.

Writing on its official Telegram channel, the Kyiv City Military Administration said two people were killed in the strikes.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 29 people were wounded, noting that falling debris from intercepted Russian drones hit residential buildings. He also said the western part of Kyiv had lost power.

The latest assault on Kyiv came as Ukrainian peace negotiators are due to meet their U.S. counterparts in America this weekend, according to an official in Ukraine's presidential administration who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks.

A U.S. delegation is then expected to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the second half of next week.