Russian attacks on Kyiv follow US-linked Moscow visit

A delegation led by real‑estate investor Jared Witkoff and former White House adviser Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for a series of meetings with Russian officials, a trip that coincided with the first major Russian missile strikes on Kyiv in weeks. The delegation, which included senior advisors and business partners, was granted a private audience with President Vladimir Putin and later toured key infrastructure projects, according to statements from the Russian Foreign Ministry. Within hours of the Moscow meetings, Russian forces launched a coordinated barrage of cruise missiles and artillery shells targeting residential districts, energy facilities, and transportation hubs in Ukraine’s capital, causing multiple casualties and prompting emergency alerts across the city.

Ukrainian authorities condemned the attacks as a direct escalation, while Western governments called for an urgent investigation into any possible link between the diplomatic visit and the timing of the strikes. The United States and European Union reiterated their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and warned that any coordination between foreign actors and Russian military actions would be met with further sanctions. The Witkoff‑Kushner delegation departed Moscow later that day, and both parties have declined to comment on the proximity of the attacks to their visit. The incident underscores the heightened volatility in the region as diplomatic engagements continue amid ongoing conflict.