Russia and Ukraine Trade Overnight Strikes as Trump Cites Diplomatic Progress

Overnight attacks between Russia and Ukraine killed at least seven people on the Ukrainian side, authorities reported on Thursday, just hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. Trump, reacting to Wednesday's talks, said negotiators were "maybe now the closest we've been" to ending the war. The Kremlin signaled it was "in principle" open to resuming trilateral talks involving both sides and the United States. Despite that opening, massive drone barrages targeted Moscow and fighting continued unabated following the visit. The exchange underscores how diplomacy and escalation are unfolding simultaneously in the conflict.