Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv, was struck by missiles on Wednesday night, causing injuries to six people and damaging several houses. The attack occurred just hours after Russia announced its willingness in principle to resume peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

This latest assault on Kyiv comes amid a renewed diplomatic push spearheaded by envoys from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, following discussions with Ukrainian leadership.

During a press conference, President Trump stated that he had recently spoken with Vladimir Putin about resolving the war in Ukraine, suggesting that the world was closer than ever to achieving peace. However, this optimistic outlook contrasts sharply with the reality on the ground, as evidenced by the missile strikes.

The diplomatic efforts involve Witkoff, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo earlier in the week, alongside leaders from Norway and Finland. While the specifics of the proposals Witkoff presented to Putin remain undisclosed, Zelensky indicated that discussions included robust security guarantees for Ukraine and proposals for an energy ceasefire.

Russian officials, however, offered a less encouraging assessment. Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, described the proposals as "not very useful." Despite this, Ushakov suggested that a new round of talks might be held around November 10 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Ushakov emphasized that any future negotiations must prioritize the establishment of a security system for both Russia and Ukraine post-conflict. He also relayed that Putin informed Witkoff of ongoing Russian advances, claiming the Russian military held the strategic initiative along the extensive front lines.

Ukraine and its European allies dispute Russia's claims of strategic initiative, characterizing the front lines as largely static. President Zelensky has indicated a willingness to accept a deal that would freeze the conflict along the current front lines, referring to it as a "ceasefire" or "stop killings," and stated that security guarantees could be discussed subsequently.

The conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, has seen Moscow currently occupy approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Previous rounds of talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. have stalled, with Russia citing Ukrainian strikes during its general elections last month as a cause for disruption.