Russia Kills 19 Civilians in Kyiv, Remains Interested in Ukraine Peace Talks

Despite launching a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed at least 15 to 19 civilians, including children, Russia maintains it is interested in continuing peace negotiations with Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and the Russian Defense Ministry have claimed that the strikes target only military and military-related infrastructure, denying deliberate attacks on civilians, while Ukrainian officials report extensive civilian casualties and damage to residential buildings and diplomatic missions. Russia launched nearly 600 drones and 31 missiles in the recent attack, which Ukrainian forces intercepted most of, but significant damage and loss of life still occurred. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks as Russia choosing violence over diplomacy and called for increased sanctions. The Kremlin justifies its continued military offensive by citing ongoing Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure and insists negotiations remain possible to achieve political goals. The situation underscores the deep contradiction between Russia's simultaneous military aggression and stated interest in diplomatic resolution, as the conflict intensifies in 2025.