Additional Coverage:
Moscow Under Siege as Drones Downed Amidst Peace Talk Progress
Moscow experienced a significant drone attack overnight into Thursday morning, with Russia’s Defense Ministry reporting the interception of at least 287 Ukrainian drones. This surge in aerial activity occurred just as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled advancements in discussions with international partners regarding a potential peace agreement.
Of the downed drones, 40 were neutralized over the Moscow region, with 32 specifically identified as “flying toward Moscow,” according to the Defense Ministry. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed via Telegram that emergency services were deployed to various locations to address falling drone debris. In response to the incidents, Rosaviatsiya, Russia’s federal air transport agency, announced temporary flight restrictions at all four of Moscow’s airports, also through posts on Telegram.
The heightened military exchanges coincide with Zelenskyy’s statement that his negotiating team is “finalizing work on the 20 points of a fundamental document that could define the parameters for ending the war.” This refers to a comprehensive 20-point peace settlement proposal that Ukrainian, U.S., and European leaders have been developing over several weeks.
A Ukrainian official involved in the peace talks informed ABC News on Thursday morning that Ukraine had presented a revised 20-point peace plan to the U.S. The official noted that the updated plan includes “some new ideas,” particularly concerning territories and control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. “This is not a new version, it is the same 20 points, only some of them have been slightly rethought,” the official clarified.
Online consultations between Ukrainian and American negotiating teams are scheduled for Thursday, with a primary focus on security guarantees rather than the revised points of the peace plan. “Right now, there are three documents: the basic 20 points, the security guarantees and the document on the economy and reconstruction,” the Ukrainian official stated. “Yesterday, we discussed the economy, today the guarantees.”
Concurrently, Russia continued its long-range strike campaign against Ukraine overnight. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 151 drones and three missiles into the country from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
Of these, 83 drones and two missiles were successfully intercepted. Impacts from one missile and 63 drones were reported across 34 locations.
Zelenskyy, in a Wednesday social media post, announced a planned meeting for Thursday with the “Coalition of the Willing,” a group primarily composed of European leaders supporting Ukraine. He emphasized, “Ukraine is working swiftly; every visit and every negotiation we conduct always yields practical results for our defense and for our resilience.”