Russia launched a devastating wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine on Thursday, killing two people and wounding 26, while causing widespread destruction in Kyiv—just as world leaders gathered in Rome to pledge over €10 billion ($12 billion) in reconstruction aid. The assault, involving some 400 drones and 18 missiles, left apartment buildings ablaze, cars charred, and streets littered with debris, marking yet another brutal escalation in the three-year war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the conference via video link, urged allies to “more actively” seize frozen Russian assets for rebuilding and called for accelerated weapons deliveries and joint defense investments. The European Commission alone pledged €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion), signaling sustained Western support despite Russia’s relentless strikes.
The attacks coincided with high-stakes U.S.-Russia talks in Kuala Lumpur, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to show “flexibility” in ending the war. Rubio later described the 50-minute meeting as “frank and important,” revealing that the Trump administration is exploring new sanctions against Moscow amid growing frustration over stalled peace efforts. U.S. President Donald Trump has privately accused Vladimir Putin of undermining diplomatic initiatives with “bullshit,” according to sources familiar with the discussions. The Kremlin, meanwhile, characterized the talks as a “substantive exchange,” offering no concessions.
In Kyiv, residents endured a harrowing morning as explosions and anti-aircraft fire echoed through the city. Emergency crews scrambled to extinguish fires in an eight-story apartment building and clear streets of shattered glass and twisted metal. The strikes appeared calculated to overshadow the Rome conference, where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized that reconstruction efforts would focus on “dignity and hope” for Ukrainians. Zelenskyy, undeterred, framed the aid pledges as proof of Ukraine’s resilience: “Every destroyed house will be rebuilt—but first, we need to stop the destroyer,” he declared, alluding to Russia’s aggression.
As the war grinds on, the dual narratives of destruction and reconstruction underscore Ukraine’s precarious reality. While Western leaders tout long-term recovery plans, Kyiv remains locked in a daily battle for survival against Russia’s aerial onslaught. The Rome conference’s billions—though critical—pale beside Ukraine’s estimated $486 billion in war damages so far. With U.S. pressure on Moscow yielding little visible progress and Russian strikes intensifying, the conflict shows no signs of abating. For Ukrainians, Thursday’s events encapsulated their grim duality: scrambling for shelter from missiles by night, while their government secures tools to rebuild by day.