Ukraine, Russia trade strikes as US-backed talks resume

Deaths have been reported in both Russia and Ukraine, with US-brokered talks set to continue on Sunday.

Meanwhile, thousands were without power in the Ukrainian region of Chernihiv.

Several people were killed in both Russia and Ukraine on Saturday.

The strikes come with US and Ukrainian negotiators meeting in Miami as they look to resume negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine .

The talks, which began Saturday and are set to continue on Sunday, hope to bring attention back to ending the war in Ukraine, after much of the world's focus turned to the Middle East since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran .

Ukraine said four people had been killed on Saturday as a result of the Russian strikes.

Much of the northern region of Chernihiv was also left without power.

A strike on the city of Zaporizhzhia killed two people and injured six others, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Officials in neighboring Dnipropetrovsk also reported two deaths as well as five injuries.

Russian Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, meanwhile, said at least two people had been killed, with another being injured, in Ukrainian shelling of the Belgorod border region.

Why are Ukrainian and US representatives meeting?

Saturday's deadly attacks came as Ukrainian and US representatives were meeting for talks in Miami.

The US side includes US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Witkoff called the talks "constructive," saying they were "part of ongoing mediation efforts, with discussions focused on narrowing and resolving remaining items to move closer to a comprehensive peace agreement."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , writing on X, called the talks "important for the whole world," saying the teams "will continue discussion" on Sunday.

"The key issue is to understand how ready Russia is to move toward a real end to the war — honestly and with dignity — especially now, when geopolitical tensions have increased due to the situation around Iran," he added.

No end in sight for Ukraine war
After saying that he could end the war on the first day of his presidency, Trump has appeared to lose interest in the Ukraine war.

Multiple rounds of talks late last year and earlier this year have failed to yield a ceasefire.

Ukraine and its Western allies have accused the Trump administration of being too pro-Russian in its efforts at securing a ceasefire, after a draft document called on Ukraine to cede land that was still under Kyiv's control.

Zelenskyy previously said his main aim in meeting with US representatives was to ensure trilateral talks with Russia continue and that Washington allows Ukraine's European partners to continue purchasing US weapons for the war effort.

However, Russia has dragged its feet, seeking to claim as much land as possible to strengthen its hand in any negotiations.

It is also benefiting from a rise in oil and gas prices due to the ongoing war in Iran, with the US giving countries temporary permission to purchase Russian fuel .

At the same time, Ukraine is still waiting for the €90-billion package from the EU that is being held up by Hungary's Viktor Orban .

How the Iran war is hurting Ukraine's chances at peace
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