On Tuesday, Ukraine reportedly launched its most extensive drone attack on Moscow, coinciding with a meeting in Saudi Arabia between a high-level Ukrainian delegation and U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, to discuss potential pathways to ending the conflict.
Russian authorities stated that 337 drones were downed over Russia on Tuesday, with 91 intercepted in the Moscow region and 126 in the Kursk region, according to Reuters.
Meat producer Miratorg, based in Moscow, reported that two employees died from falling debris. Officials informed Reuters that 18 others, including three children, sustained injuries from strikes on residential buildings.
Visuals from Russia depicted damage to vehicles and apartment complexes following the attack, which led to the temporary closure of Moscow’s four airports. Russia allegedly responded by launching a ballistic missile and 126 drones at Ukraine.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, via Reuters, described the Ukrainian drone attack as the largest his city has experienced to date.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, offered no immediate comments regarding the drone attack.
According to the Associated Press, Ukrainian officials indicated on Tuesday their readiness to finalize a mineral agreement sought by President , and will propose a ceasefire focused on the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian delegation to Saudi Arabia was expected to include Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential office; Andrii Sybiha, minister of foreign affairs; Pavlo Palisa, colonel of armed forces of Ukraine and an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; as well as Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who was involved in initial talks with Russia following its February 2022 invasion, and who survived a poisoning attack after a peace meeting in March of that year.
Rubio told reporters on Monday that “The important point in this meeting is to clearly establish their intentions and their desire, as they’ve stated publicly multiple times, to reach a point where peace becomes a possibility.” He added that he needs reassurance that Kyiv is prepared to make difficult choices, such as ceding territory captured by Russia, to bring an end to the three-year war.
“I wouldn’t want to assume anything about whether or not we’ll get a minerals deal tomorrow,” Rubio stated en route to Saudi Arabia. “While it is important, it’s not the primary focus of our discussions.”
’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
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