Europe Russia attacks Kiev with ballistic missiles
The Ukrainian capital Kiev was rocked by heavy rocket fire in the early hours of the morning. The local military administration and emergency services reported fires on Telegram in several parts of the city, including on the roofs of residential buildings and in an industrial area. It was initially unclear whether these were rocket impacts or damage caused by falling debris from intercepted projectiles. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, one person was killed in the Obolon district and at least three others were injured.
12.02.2025, 07:50
SDA
The Ukrainian air defense had previously warned of an approach of ballistic missiles from the north-east. A number of people reported loud explosions in Kiev on social media.
US government sends high-ranking representatives to Moscow and Kiev
Shortly before the third anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine, US President Donald Trump is sending high-ranking members of his administration to Russia and Ukraine. The US special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, was able to secure the release of US citizen Marc Fogel, who was imprisoned in Russia. Trump greeted Fogel after his arrival in Washington, as can be seen on a video released by the White House.
The teacher was arrested at a Moscow airport in 2021 and later sentenced to prison for drug smuggling. According to the White House, Trump, Witkoff and other advisors had agreed an "exchange" with Moscow, which was a "sign of goodwill" on the part of the Russians. What the Russian side received in return was left open.
Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, told CNN that another US citizen was expected to be released today, Wednesday.
Release as a sign of progress in negotiations
Fogel's release is "a sign that we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and horrific war in Ukraine", according to the White House statement. No further details were given. It also remained unclear who Witkoff spoke to in Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, had denied a visit by Witkoff to the Kremlin in the hours beforehand. He said there was no information about the arrival of the US diplomat. "No contacts are planned," said Peskov.
According to the New York Times, Witkoff had traveled to Moscow by private jet. This is the first known trip by a high-ranking US official to Moscow since November 2021 - a few months before the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. At the time, then CIA Director Bill Burns was in Russia for talks.
US Treasury Secretary travels to Kiev
Trump also sent his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine for talks on ending the Russian war of aggression. Bessent will talk to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi there, Trump announced via his online mouthpiece Truth Social. The war must end and soon it will. There is too much death and destruction. "When America is strong, there is peace in the world," the Republican added in capital letters.
Trump did not give an exact date for Bessent's trip. The US President had recently shown particular interest in rare minerals in Ukraine and linked US aid for the country attacked by Russia to access to raw materials stored there. Zelenskyi had made it clear that he wanted to show his appreciation for Western aid and mentioned rare earths and other mineral resources in this context. Ukraine has been resisting the Russian invasion for almost three years with Western support.
On Friday, Trump held out the prospect of a meeting with Zelenskyi in Washington this week and emphasized that he did not want to travel to Ukraine himself.
Trump's defense secretary expected to attend Ukraine meeting
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected to attend a meeting of the Ukraine partners in Brussels today, where further support for the country will be discussed. This afternoon (2.30 p.m.), defense ministers will meet at NATO headquarters in the format of the so-called Ukraine Contact Group to coordinate arms assistance.
There is still no confirmation of media reports that Keith Kellogg, the Ukraine negotiator appointed by Trump, will travel to Ukraine on Thursday next week. However, representatives of the Trump administration are expected in Ukraine before the Munich Security Conference. US Vice President J.D. Vance is due to come to Munich for the security conference, which begins on Friday and ends on Sunday.
Selensky advocates the expansion of nuclear energy
The negotiations with the USA were only a marginal topic in Zelensky's evening video message. The Ukrainian head of state said that Kiev was prepared for the talks. Against the backdrop of constant Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy supply, the main topic of his message was the announcement to expand nuclear power.
"Ukraine will be able to add two more reactor blocks to the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant, and that is more than two gigawatts of electricity for Ukraine," said Selensky. The parliament in Kiev had previously initiated the purchase of two Soviet-design nuclear reactors from Bulgaria.
The expansion of the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant will allow Ukraine to manage without electricity imports in winter, Selensky assured. Of course, there is also opposition to the project. "But these are the voices for whom cheap energy in Ukraine is simply unfavorable - they fill their pockets or those (of those) on whom they depend with more expensive energy than nuclear energy."
Ukraine has now lost a good half of its capacity due to the systematic Russian bombardment of energy facilities. Shortly after the start of the war, the most powerful nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in the south-east of the country, was occupied by Russian troops. It is still under Russian control.
