Putin defies US threats in 'cruel' Ukraine bombing hours before 'peace' talks

Kremlin forces dropped aerial bombs on Ukraine hours before key talks in Moscow with US President Donald Trump ’s peace envoy.

The bombs on a recreational base in Ukraine ’s Zaporizhzhia region, killed at least two people and injured 12 others, including two children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “My condolences to the families and loved ones. There was zero military sense in this strike. Just cruelty – to intimidate.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with US President Donald Trump's representative Steve Witkoff in Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed. It was days before the White House's deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or face severe economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil. It comes after NATO scrambled warplanes as Russia shoots down West's F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine onslaught.

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The meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Witkoff lasted about three hours. Mr Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Russian president and Mr Witkoff had a "useful and constructive conversation" that focused on the Ukrainian crisis. The talks came after Putin recently warned of nuclear war after unleashing several nights of hell on Ukraine

In a hint towards improving relations between Washington and Moscow he added that there were "prospects for possible development of strategic co-operation between the US and Russia". Earlier, Mr Witkoff took an early morning walk through Zaryadye Park, a stone's throw from the Kremlin, with Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for investment and economic co-operation.

Mr Dmitriev said later that "dialogue will prevail". The envoy played a key role in three rounds of direct talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in recent months.

The negotiations made no progress on ending the three-year war following Russia's invasion of its neighbour. US President Donald Trump's deadline for Mr Putin ends on Friday.

Washington has threatened "severe tariffs" and other economic penalties if the killing does not stop. Mr Trump claims he is increasingly angry with Mr Putin over Russia's escalating strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine, intended to erode morale and public appetite for the war.

The intensified attacks have occurred even as Mr Trump has urged the Russian leader in recent months to relent. Russian forces launched at least four strikes on the Zaporozhzhia area and initially attacked with powerful glide bombs.

Russia also struck the Ukrainian power grid and heating gas facilities as Ukraine makes preparations for winter. Western analysts and Ukrainian officials say Mr Putin is stalling for time and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian forces push to capture more Ukraine land.

A Russian offensive that started in the spring and is expected to continue through the autumn is advancing faster than last year's push but is making only slow and costly gains and has been unable to take any major cities. The situation on the front line is critical for Ukrainian forces but defences are not about to collapse, analysts say.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump said "we'll see what happens" regarding his threat to slap tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, which could increase import taxes dramatically on China and India.

"We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow," the US president said. "We're going to see what happens. We'll make that determination at that time." Mr Putin has strengthened Russia's military ties with China, North Korea and Iran.

Nato, meanwhile, said on Tuesday it has started co-ordinating regular deliveries of large Western weapons packages to Ukraine. European allies and Canada are buying most of the equipment they plan to transport from the United States.

The Trump administration is not donating any arms to Ukraine. Mr Putin has given no hint that he might be ready to make concessions.

Instead, the Russian leader and senior Kremlin officials have talked up the country's military strength. Mr Putin announced last week that Russia's new hypersonic missile, which he says cannot be intercepted by current Nato air defence systems, has entered service.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has warned that the Ukraine war could bring Russia and the US into armed conflict. Mr Trump responded to that by ordering the repositioning of two US nuclear submarines. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday welcomed Mr Witkoff's visit.