Russia pounds Ukrainian infrastructure while downplaying peace talks progress

Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles on Ukraine while downplaying progress in peace talks held in Florida.

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia unleashed a colossal wave of attacks on Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, filling Ukraine’s skies with drones and missiles two days before Christmas while dismissing optimism from American officials that peace talks hosted in the United States were yielding progress.

The Kremlin fired 635 drones and 38 missiles, Ukrainian officials said, triggering air raid sirens, nationwide blackouts and prompting neighboring Poland to scramble fighter jets. At least four people were killed, including a child, with dozens more injured, regional officials said.

A rescue worker extinguishes a fire from a destroyed car in Ukraine's Chernihiv region Tuesday.Ukrainian Emergency Service / APThe bombardment came hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia may launch “massive strikes on Christmas,” saying his country was suffering a “shortage of air defense systems.”

Zelenskyy said Monday that talks between U.S., Ukrainian and European officials in Miami over the weekend had been “quite solid and dignified.” He conceded that “not everything is perfect so far,” but that a “plan is in place,” including the “security guarantees” that he and his European allies say is essential in any deal to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking again.

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach that the discussions were “going OK” and that “we are talking.”