Russian Strikes Kill Six in Ukraine Amid U.S.-Russia Peace Talks

Russia conducted a series of attacks on Ukraine on March 12, 2024, resulting in the deaths of at least six individuals. The strikes targeted urban buildings and critical energy infrastructure, further escalating the ongoing conflict. This latest wave of violence coincides with renewed peace negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials taking place in Abu Dhabi.

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll engaged in discussions with Russian representatives for several hours on Tuesday, as confirmed by a U.S. official to The Associated Press. Driscoll, who joined the U.S. negotiating team less than two weeks ago, is leading the latest round of talks regarding a potential peace plan with Russia. While the U.S. official did not disclose specifics about the negotiations, it was noted that Ukrainian officials were aware of the discussions and expressed a unified desire to reach a resolution to the conflict as swiftly as possible.

Impact of Russian Attacks on Ukrainian Cities

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian forces launched a substantial assault overnight, firing 22 missiles and deploying over 460 drones. Zelenskyy highlighted that four drones even crossed into Romanian and Moldovan airspace. The attacks severely impacted Kyiv, where essential services such as water, electricity, and heating were disrupted.

Video footage shared on social media depicted flames engulfing a nine-storey residential building in Kyiv’s Dniprovskyi district. Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported that two people died and five were injured in the assault on Dniprovskyi, while another residential building in the central Pecherskyi district sustained significant damage. A 90-year-old resident of Dniprovskyi, Liubov Petrivna, described the destruction in her home, stating that “absolutely everything” was shattered and that she felt hopeless about the ongoing peace discussions, asserting, “Putin won’t stop until he finishes us off.”

In a subsequent attack, four more fatalities were reported, along with three injuries, stemming from a strike on a non-residential building in the western Sviatoshynyi district of Kyiv.

The Russian attacks also targeted energy infrastructure in the Odesa region, injuring six individuals, including two children. In response, Ukrainian drones struck the southern Russian city of Taganrog, killing three and wounding eight, according to local officials. The city is located near the border with Ukraine, and the attack damaged both residential buildings and local businesses.

International Response and Ongoing Negotiations

As the conflict intensifies, a U.S.-imposed deadline for a peace agreement looms. Despite ongoing negotiations, critical issues remain unresolved, including Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Discussions took place in Geneva on March 10 between U.S. and Ukrainian representatives regarding the U.S.-Russia brokered peace plan. Ukrainian delegate Oleksandr Bevz described the talks as “very constructive,” indicating that both sides were able to discuss various points of contention.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow had not yet received the latest version of the peace proposal. French President Emmanuel Macron commented that any peace plan must include strong security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe, cautioning against a proposal that could be perceived as capitulation. He emphasized the importance of maintaining Ukraine’s military capabilities to ensure national defense.

Macron’s statements came ahead of a virtual meeting involving allies, primarily led by France and the UK, aimed at coordinating efforts to monitor any potential ceasefire with Russia. He remarked, “We want peace, but we don’t want a peace that is, in fact, a capitulation,” stressing the need for a balanced solution that does not enable further Russian aggression.

As the world watches these developments, the humanitarian impact of the conflict continues to grow, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The international community remains engaged in seeking a resolution, even as the situation on the ground remains perilous.