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 1456 GMT:

Ukraine has repatriated the bodies of 1,000 fallen soldiers.

In return, UKraine returned 35 slain Russian troops.

UPDATE 1326 GMT:

At least one civilian has been murdered and 33 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.

Among the victims are 26 people wounded by Russia’s overnight launch of 39 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles, and 420 drones. Five ballistic missiles and 32 drones struck 32 locations.

The fatality was in the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine.

Casualties were also recorded in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Donetsk, and Kirovohrad regions.

UPDATE 0955 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has commented on Russia’s latest missile and drone strikes.

Most missiles launched today were successfully intercepted thanks to our partners swiftly sending part of the air defense missiles agreed upon at the recent Ramstein meeting. Unfortunately, there were also hits. And this means we must continue working even more actively. The cold has not yet fully receded, and air defense missiles are needed every single day while Russia continues its attempts to destroy our energy system.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added:

When the whole world demands Moscow to finally stop this senseless war, Putin bets on more terror, attacks, and aggression.

Now is the time to respond with strength, not weakness. New decisions, including defense assistance packages and sanctions on Russia, are urgent.

He pointed at Hungary, whose pro-Putin Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is blocking the European Union’s €90 billion ($106.25 billion) loan to Kyiv and further sanctions on Russia:

It is unacceptable when certain blackmailers in the EU not only block decisions needed for collective defense, but also threaten to halt some energy supplies to Ukraine at a time when our country’s energy system is being brutally bombed.

This blackmail weakens Europe and benefits Russia. It must be stopped.

UPDATE 0756 GMT:

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

The Russians fired 39 missiles and 420 drones.

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.