Symbolic imageUkraine-US talks open in Florida as Kyiv's grid fails
Ukrainian and US negotiators met in Florida on Friday, Europeans invited, as Russian strikes left most of Kyiv without power.
Envoy Steve Witkoff called the talks "constructive" on X, citing winter preparedness and security guarantees. According to Axios, he and Jared Kushner bring undisclosed "new ideas and proposals" and plan to travel to Russia before the end of the month. The talks were partly overshadowed by Donald Trump's announcement of a diesel deal with Moscow, which Volodymyr Zelensky said gives Russia "extra money for the war". Putin told Trump by phone that Ukrainian drone attacks during the Duma elections undermined resuming direct talks, aide Yuri Ushakov said.
Kyiv without power and water
After explosions on the evening of 8 October, most of Kyiv lost power for a third evening in a row, with the metro halted and water cut in several districts, TASS reports. Mayor Vitali Klitschko advised residents with relatives elsewhere to leave but, per AFP, plans no full evacuation. Zelensky said city authorities had almost completely failed to prepare.
Energy ceasefire for sanctions relief
The Kyiv Independent, citing Ukrainian and US sources, reports Russia wants sanctions lifted in return for halting strikes on energy sites. Kyiv insists any ceasefire be mutual and bring Russia no preferences.
Other opinions
TASS, Russian state-affiliated, speaks only of "explosions" in Kyiv and stresses Zelensky's criticism of Klitschko's administration.