NATO responded to a second consecutive night of Russian attacks on Ukraine by deploying warplanes, with civilians being hit close to allied territory. The assaults occurred as diplomatic talks in Geneva aimed to broker a peace agreement accepted by both Russia and Ukraine, despite no indication from Vladimir Putin of a desire to end the conflict. Additionally, a senior NATO official warned of Moscow’s involvement in trafficking drugs and migrants from Africa to sow discord in the West.
During the latest strikes, a mother of two, Natalya, was tragically killed in Kharkiv by a drone strike that also claimed the lives of three others and left 17 injured. The woman’s son recounted her final moments, describing how she was caught in the attack while visiting her sister in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Among the wounded was 77-year-old Volodymyr Kravtsov, who narrowly escaped the devastation caused by the airstrikes.
Following the attacks on Izmail, a vital Ukrainian port on the River Danube bordering Romania, NATO forces were mobilized, including German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and Romanian F-16 fighters. The Romanians accused Russia of targeting civilian areas and port facilities in Ukraine, with the attacks also causing damage in Chernihiv.
Meanwhile, negotiations on a US peace plan witnessed input from Britain and Europe, potentially leading to modifications in the 28-point proposal.