A shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine burns after a Russian strike, February 26, 2026

EA-War and Politics 24: Talking with Ukraine on 4th Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: 4 Years Later, Ukraine Still Stands

Wednesday’s Coverage: Trump Administration Abstains on UN Vote Supporting Kyiv v. Russia’s Invasion

UPDATE 0756 GMT:

The toll has risen to at least 23 injured, including a 7-year-old boy, from Russia’s overnight strikes.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Russia launched missile and drone strikes across Ukraine overnight, hours before talks between Kyiv’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov and Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The Russians targeted the capital Kyiv, the second city Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kryvyi Rih, the birthplace of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Umerov, the chair of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, is meeting Witkoff in Geneva. The two men are discussing preparations for another set of talks with Russia, prisoner-of-war exchanges, and a “prosperity package” for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Zelensky spoke with Donald Trump by phone, expressing hope that the next trilateral meeting will be in March for “an opportunity to move talks to the leaders’ level”.

“Sources familiar with the call” — likely Trump staff — said Zelensky expressed hope that an agreement to end Russia’s invasion would be signed by the end of 2026, but Trump said he wanted it completed within a month.

The officials said the “friendly” call was around 30 minutes.

The Kremlin played down the possibility of a leaders’ summit on Wednesday. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the encounter be only to “finalize agreements”.

Trump envoy Witkoff had proclaimed that Zelensky and Vladimir Putin could meet soon after the next round of trilateral talks.

But Peskov questioned “whether there’s any point in holding a summit” as long as Ukraine holds out against capitulation to Russian demands.

The Russian outlet Verstka said the Kremlin is preparing to hold elections this September for the Duma, the lower house of parliament, with a military agenda because “strategic military objectives” have not been achieved.

A source told Verstka that the Kremlin is going through the talks to prevent US aid to Kyiv: “While we’re negotiating, Ukraine doesn’t have Tomahawks [US-made long-range missiles], to put it bluntly.”

Explosions In Ukraine’s Largest Cities

Explosions began in Kyiv around 4:00 a.m., as air defense systems engaged incoming ballistic missiles and drones. Monitors reported the possible launch of additional missiles from Russian strategic aircraft.

Fires were set in a private property in the Holosiivskyi district and a two-story residence in the Pecherskyi district.

Kharkiv was targeted by 17 drones and two missiles. The Shevchenkivskyi, Kyivskyi, Saltivskyi, and Slobidskyi districts were hit.

At least nine civilians were injured in a residential high-rise building, and another five, including a child, were wounded near the city.

In Zaporizhzhia in south-central Ukraine, one person was murdered and eight injured. Several floors of an apartment building were set afire, with one person reportedly trapped. A shopping center and a private home were damaged.

A strike on Kryvyi Rih injured an 89-year-old man and 82-year old woman. A blaze was started in a high-rise residential building.