Russia chooses ballistics instead of negotiating table, Zelenskyy says in Kyiv attack aftermath

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Moscow over its massive aerial strike on Ukrainian cities overnight on Thursday, stating that "Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table.”

"These Russian missiles and attack drones today are a clear response to everyone in the world who, for weeks and months, has been calling for a ceasefire and for real diplomacy," Zelenskyy said in a post on X.

Having launched a massive aerial attack on Ukraine, which killed at least 18 people, the Kremlin claimed it is still interested in “peace talks".

“Russia remains interested in continuing the negotiation process in order to achieve our goals through political and diplomatic means," the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

Moscow has repeatedly rejected the ceasefire proposal initiated by Kyiv and Washington and has still not agreed to the possibility of a one-on-one meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Peskov said Moscow will continue its war against Ukraine. “The Russian armed forces are also carrying out their tasks. As stated, they continue to strike military and military-related infrastructure," he said.

"The strikes are successful, the targets are being destroyed, and the special military operation continues.”

On Thursday, Russia attacked residential buildings, small businesses, a shopping mall, and a high-speed passenger train depot.

In one of Kyiv’s neighbourhoods, a five-story building was directly struck, causing the structure to collapse from the first floor up. Another home and a kindergarten in the area were damaged.

The attack also damaged a building of the European Union's mission to Ukraine. Two missiles hit within a distance of 50 metres of the delegation within 15 seconds, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, noting that no staff members were harmed.

The offices of Ukrainska Pravda, one of the country's leading news outlets, and the Kyiv bureau of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) were damaged in the attack.

'Putin must come to the negotiating table'

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has called on Ukraine’s partners to “respond firmly” to Russia’s attacks and Moscow’s refusal to come to the negotiating table.

“For the spurning of ceasefire and for the constant Russian attempts to weasel out of negotiations, new strong sanctions are needed," Ukraine’s president stated.

"Only this can work. The Russians understand only strength and pressure. For every strike, Moscow must feel the consequences,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that he expects a reaction from China, which "has repeatedly called for not expanding the war and for a ceasefire," as well as from Hungary.

"We expect a response from everyone in the world who has called for peace but now more often stays silent rather than taking principled positions," he concluded.

At the same time, von der Leyen insisted “Putin must come to the negotiating table”.

As the White House pushes for a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, Moscow has rejected a ceasefire proposal and now says no meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin is scheduled anytime soon.

US President Donald Trump separately met Putin and Zelenskyy in August, but no breakthrough has been achieved, and Russia has continued its attacks against Ukraine.