Russia Strikes Kyiv Before Peace Talks; Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets

Handshakes are scheduled, but the sky is raining missiles. According to Reuters, Russia launched a massive aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on December 27, 2025, just hours before high-stakes peace negotiations. Poland scrambled its fighter jets in a "preventative" response to secure its airspace as at least 1 person died and 28 others were injured in the strikes.

A 'Fighting While Talking' Strategy

Ukraine reported that Russia directed nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles toward civilian and energy infrastructure. The attacks left thousands without power or heating as temperatures plummeted below freezing. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the act on Telegram, stating that Russian representatives talk of peace while "Daggers [missiles] and Shaheds [drones] are speaking for them."

Zelensky's 20-Point Draft and Trump's Approval

The escalation comes as Zelensky prepares to meet Donald Trump in Florida this Sunday. Zelensky is expected to present a revised 20-point peace draft, which reportedly includes security guarantees from NATO and the possibility of a "free economic zone" in the contested Donbas region. Trump, however, hasn't committed to any specific plan yet, telling Politico that Zelensky "doesn't have anything until I approve it."