Russia and Ukraine trade airstrikes as security talks resume

Photo — Саша Ромадин / Pexels

The renewed attacks came as Ukrainian and Western negotiators held talks at NATO headquarters focused on postwar reconstruction, 2027 funding and security guarantees. Ukraine said its air defenses shot down or suppressed 105 of 128 Russian attack drones, while Russian authorities claimed their forces intercepted 496 Ukrainian drones across 13 regions, Crimea and surrounding seas. The escalation underscores the gap between diplomatic efforts and conditions on the battlefield, while the European Commission announced a 4.36 billion euro payment to Ukraine under a larger support loan.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Euronews, United Nations