At least seven people, including two children, have been killed and 27 wounded in a series of intense Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine's cities of Kharkiv and Kyiv.
The attacks occurred hours after US President Donald Trump announced that plans for an imminent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin had been shelved, citing his desire not to have a "wasted meeting". The decision came just days after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, during which the US leader refused to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles.
The strikes on Kharkiv targeted a kindergarten, killing a 40-year-old man and injuring seven others. Children were among those hurt, and dozens more were evacuated from the area as rescue teams fought fires in residential buildings.
In Kyiv, a couple in their 60s was killed when a drone hit their high-rise building, while four people died in the wider city. A six-month-old baby and a 12-year-old girl were among those injured.
The attacks on Ukraine's cities came just hours after Russian officials claimed that preparation for a Trump-Putin summit continued, despite the US president's claim that it had been put on hold.
In Norway, Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived at the start of a European trip, days after his meeting with Trump in Washington. He told reporters that he believed Russia was less interested in diplomacy now that the issue of long-range missiles for Ukraine had become "less far away".
Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukraine's leader signed a letter of intent that could see Sweden supply 100 to 150 domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine over the next decade.
Russia has been accused of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, with its attacks on the country continuing throughout the night.
The attacks occurred hours after US President Donald Trump announced that plans for an imminent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin had been shelved, citing his desire not to have a "wasted meeting". The decision came just days after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, during which the US leader refused to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles.
The strikes on Kharkiv targeted a kindergarten, killing a 40-year-old man and injuring seven others. Children were among those hurt, and dozens more were evacuated from the area as rescue teams fought fires in residential buildings.
In Kyiv, a couple in their 60s was killed when a drone hit their high-rise building, while four people died in the wider city. A six-month-old baby and a 12-year-old girl were among those injured.
The attacks on Ukraine's cities came just hours after Russian officials claimed that preparation for a Trump-Putin summit continued, despite the US president's claim that it had been put on hold.
In Norway, Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived at the start of a European trip, days after his meeting with Trump in Washington. He told reporters that he believed Russia was less interested in diplomacy now that the issue of long-range missiles for Ukraine had become "less far away".
Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukraine's leader signed a letter of intent that could see Sweden supply 100 to 150 domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine over the next decade.
Russia has been accused of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, with its attacks on the country continuing throughout the night.
... like what even is the point of having a summit now if it's just gonna be another empty meeting? 
Trump already said no to the long-range missiles and now Russia is all "oh, but we're still gonna talk"? 
Give me a break. Ukraine needs real help, not some fancy diplomacy that doesn't deliver 
... and by the way, 100-150 Gripen fighter jets? That's more like it 
- at least something tangible to show for.
This recent wave of Russian drone and missile strikes is really disturbing - like, I don't know how many times we can expect this from Russia at this point. It's not like they're even trying to hide their intentions anymore... 
Ukraine is already in a precarious situation, and it seems like the international community isn't doing enough to help.
this is just so sad 
it's like the world is stuck and can't even talk about peace for one sec anymore 
especially when there are innocent kids getting hurt 
40 years old man in a kindergarten, 6-month-old baby... these families dont deserve to go through all this 
trump said it was put on hold but then he cancels it anyway 
and russia says prep continues... who knows what's going on behind the scenes 
its just a human tragedy unfolding in ukraine 
?. But at the same time, I kinda feel bad for Putin 'cause his country's gettin' destroyed and all... it's like, you can't win with this war thingy, right? 
. Sweden on the other hand is doin' the right thing by helpin' out Ukraine 
. But still, what's with all these drone strikes in Kharkiv & Kyiv? Like, can't they just use regular missiles or somethin'? 
it's just devastating to think about kids getting hurt in a kindergarten attack 
. and now, a European country is even offering help with fighter jets 
... does this just make things worse? 
anyway what's up with trump & putin not meeting face to face tho? does that mean they're never gonna make peace or something? i feel like we'll never know the answer unless someone from russia opens up 
btw has anyone seen that swedish prime minister guy who's like making ukraine's fighter jets happen 
it's like something straight out of a war movie, you know? Russia just keeps on attacking and nobody seems to be able to stop them 
maybe this can be a way forward, but we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out...
. it's not like we haven't seen enough of this senseless violence lately... can't we all just talk things out instead? 
. and meanwhile, Ukraine is still fighting for its freedom and safety 
.
.
. It's all just smoke and mirrors at this point... meanwhile, Ukraine is suffering and innocent lives are lost 
.
. They're still holding strong against the Russian invasion... kudos to them 
The Swedish deal with Gripen fighter jets could be super helpful for their defense. And Norway's President Zelensky sounds like he's on the right track, saying Russia might not be interested in diplomacy now