• Russia launched nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles on Kyiv, resulting in one fatality and over 20 injuries.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed the attacks demonstrate Russia's unwillingness to end the war.
• Poland scrambled jets in response to the heightened threat near its border with Ukraine.
• Zelensky is set to meet with Trump to discuss security guarantees and territorial issues amid ongoing violence.
• The assaults left a significant portion of Kyiv without power and heating during freezing temperatures.

In a significant escalation, Russia targeted Ukraine's capital Kyiv with a barrage of missiles and drones early on Saturday morning, killing at least one person and injuring over 20 others just before pivotal talks between Ukraine and the U.S. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that "nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles" were used in the attack, which primarily aimed at energy and civilian infrastructure, leaving many areas without electricity or heating in freezing temperatures, according to BBC, SCMP, and NPR.

Zelensky expressed concern that Russia’s actions reveal a clear intent "not to end the war," implying that Moscow seeks to exacerbate the suffering within Ukraine while ignoring peace proposals from the international community. He emphasized this point through a Telegram post, stating that "while Russian representatives engage in discussions, their drones and missiles speak louder," according to SCMP and NPR.

The severity of the strike prompted Poland to scramble its fighter jets to secure its airspace, although it later confirmed no violation of its borders occurred. The Polish Armed Forces described the measure as a precautionary action, given the ongoing threats posed by the conflict, according to BBC.

Zelensky is poised to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss potential security guarantees and territorial issues which remain contentious in the talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire. The Ukrainian leader hopes to finalize proposals that could underpin a formal peace agreement, as highlighted in his statements leading up to the discussions, reported by SCMP and NPR.