Ukraine has made a dramatic diplomatic move as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly rejects Vladimir Putin’s invitation to Moscow and instead invites the Russian leader to Kyiv for direct talks. At the same time, the Kremlin confirms a temporary pause in strikes on Ukrainian cities following a direct request from President Donald Trump. 

Ukraine’s eastern border city of Kharkiv has come under a deadly Russian drone assault, leaving at least four people dead and six others wounded, according to regional authorities. The overnight strike targeted civilian areas near the Russian border, intensifying fears of further escalation as diplomatic efforts stall. Kharkiv’s mayor confirmed that a long-range Russian drone struck a children’s medical facility, triggering a fire and forcing emergency evacuations. Residential neighborhoods were also hit, as explosions echoed across the city during what officials described as a coordinated drone onslaught. WATCH