Paris Summit of Allies Amidst Devastating Russian Strikes in Ukraine

Russian attacks on Ukraine early Monday resulted in two fatalities and prompted nighttime evacuations in frigid conditions, just one day before Ukrainian allies are set to convene in Paris to reinvigorate diplomatic discussions aimed at halting the conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to participate in the Paris gathering, part of ongoing efforts led by the U.S. to bring an end to the Russian invasion, which commenced four years ago next month.

French President Emmanuel Macron will host this meeting of the «coalition of the willing» on Tuesday, focusing on security assurances as a component of a proposal aimed at resolving the war between Ukraine and Russia.

The Russian strikes overnight caused a fire at a private medical facility in the capital, resulting in one death and injuring three others, according to officials.

Emergency services shared footage of rescuers carrying individuals on stretchers from a severely damaged building.

«Medical personnel had to evacuate the injured while under fire,» stated Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on X.

«It was a horrifying night for us,» said Margaryta Maliovana, the clinic’s CEO, speaking to AFP.

«A young man, 30 years old, was killed,» she noted, revealing that at the time of the attack, there were 26 patients receiving care at the clinic.

Additionally, the pre-dawn assault claimed the life of a man in his 70s in the nearby city of Fastiv, reported the Kyiv regional governor.

The attacks led to power outages in the vicinity, prompting the activation of backup systems to ensure the continuity of water and heating, as temperatures plunged to -8 degrees Celsius.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia unleashed a total of 165 drones and at least nine missiles during the night.

European leaders are gathering in Paris on Tuesday to seek a breakthrough on a plan to conclude the fighting, which Kyiv claims is «90%» ready.

«This week, we will collaborate with our European and American partners to guarantee that Ukraine receives the necessary support,» stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.

To set the stage for further discussions, security advisors from 15 nations, including the UK, France, and Germany, along with representatives from NATO and the European Union, convened in Kyiv over the weekend.

U.S. envoy Witkoff participated in the discussions virtually, according to a Ukrainian official, although the U.S. military’s significant operation against Venezuela earlier that day overshadowed the talks.

Another preparatory meeting among military chiefs is anticipated for Monday.

Diplomatic initiatives aimed at concluding Europe’s most lethal conflict since World War II have accelerated recently, yet both Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds regarding territorial issues in any post-war agreement.

Currently, Russia occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine and is seeking full control over the eastern Donbas region as part of negotiations.

In contrast, Kyiv has cautioned that conceding territory would encourage further aggression from Moscow and has stated it will not endorse a peace agreement that does not prevent future invasions.

On Monday, Russia declared it had taken control of the village of Hrabovske in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, where Kyiv accused Moscow last month of forcibly relocating dozens of residents.

Under constant bombardment and losing territory, Ukraine has retaliated with drone strikes targeting Russian territory, particularly focusing on energy infrastructure that sustains the military campaign.

Trump dismissed claims made by Moscow alleging that Kyiv had attempted a drone strike on one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residences. «I don’t believe that strike happened,» Trump stated while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. Kyiv has similarly refuted the accusation.

The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, if not more, devastated eastern Ukraine, and forced millions to evacuate their homes.

Putin has pledged to continue his military agenda if his stringent demands are not met during negotiations.

Analysis by AFP indicates that Russia gained more territory on the battlefield in 2025 than in any previous year since the onset of its offensive.