Russian Strikes on Kyiv Before NATO Ankara Summit

Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Kyiv on Monday, killing at least 22 people across the city and wider region, with dozens more injured. The strike came just days before NATO's annual summit in Ankara, Turkey, where Ukraine's air defense needs are a central agenda item.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned ahead of the NATO summit that Russian intelligence indicated Russia was preparing another massive strike on Ukraine. His warning preceded Monday's assault by a matter of days.

Zelenskyy called for the US and European allies to emerge from the NATO summit in Ankara with strong decisions in support of Ukraine's air defense. The appeal reflected Ukraine's urgent need for additional defensive capabilities as Russian strikes continued.

Zelenskyy is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit. The bilateral meeting comes as both leaders navigate diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflict.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has lasted nearly four and a half years and is described by France 24 as Europe's worst conflict since World War II. In recent months, Ukrainian strikes have reached as far as the Ural region of Russia, targeting oil and fuel depots and affecting ordinary life inside Russian territory.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte characterized the Russian strikes on Kyiv as an indiscriminate attack on innocent civilians and infrastructure, according to The Guardian. Rutte stated the summit agenda would focus on defense spending and supporting Ukraine.

Fox News, citing Zelenskyy's statement, reported that Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 attack drones in the attack on Kyiv. The outlet also reported that Ukraine's air defenses intercepted drones and cruise missiles but failed to intercept Russian ballistic missiles during the assault.

Zelenskyy stated that insufficient supply of interceptor missiles was the reason Ukraine could not intercept Russian ballistic missiles, according to reports from Fox News and The Guardian. Fox News reported Zelenskyy's assertion that Patriot missiles remain in allied stockpiles unused.

The Guardian reported that Rutte stated NATO's Purl weapons delivery scheme is working as intended but that more needs to be done to produce interceptors for Ukraine. The outlet also cited Rutte's statement that the US has reviewed its force posture to assess what it can provide to NATO in the event of simultaneous conflicts in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic theaters.

At least four people were killed by Russian drone and missile strikes in Ukraine on Sunday, the day before the major Kyiv attack, according to France 24. This separate assault preceded Monday's larger-scale strike on the capital.

France 24 reported that Russia claimed it had captured the town of Kostyantynivka, while Ukraine denied this claim, calling it a lie. Zelenskyy stated that fighting was continuing for the town. Kostyantynivka had a pre-war population of approximately 78,000 and is located on the way to important hubs in the Donetsk region.

The Guardian reported that Zelenskyy stated he is willing to meet with Putin in any format to resolve the war, according to NATO Secretary General Rutte. However, Russia has declined to engage in direct negotiations with Zelenskyy, Rutte said.

Donald Trump stated that ending Russian aggression in Ukraine is "much closer than people realise" and that both Putin and Zelenskyy want the war to end, according to The Guardian. Trump said he had a "good call" with Putin; Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Trump and Putin agreed their contacts would continue in the near future.

France 24 reported that Zelenskyy stated Ukraine has put forward proposals for peace. Fox News, citing Reuters, reported that Zelenskyy, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to have dinner with NATO leaders on Tuesday.

The Guardian reported that NATO Secretary General Rutte stated that Belarus is under heavy Russian influence and that events in Minsk are inspired by Putin. The outlet also reported that British F-35 fighter jets intercepted a Russian aircraft that flew at low altitude near the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier in the Norwegian Sea.