Massive Drone Attack on Moscow Precedes US-Ukrainian Negotiations

Moscow, Russia — Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow on March 11, killing at least two people and injuring 18 others, including three children. The attack unfolded just hours before critical talks between American and Ukrainian officials aimed at negotiating an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that a total of 337 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across Russia, with 91 shot down in the Moscow region alone. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described this as the most significant drone assault on the capital since the start of the war, impacting multiple residential areas and forcing temporary closures at all four of Moscow’s airports.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, began direct discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The meeting comes in the wake of rising tensions following an unprecedented fallout between the two nations, marked by U.S. military aid pauses and allegations of unmet Ukrainian commitments to pursue peace.

Yermak emphasized Ukraine’s readiness to negotiate terms conducive to peace, highlighting an intention to secure a ceasefire and environment for safe shipping in the Black Sea, which has been crucial for internal supply chains and international trade.

Senator Rubio, addressing reporters before the meeting, mentioned that the U.S. delegation would approach the negotiations without placing strict preconditions. “We want to listen to see how far they’re willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want,” he stated. He also noted that a potential deal regarding rare earth minerals could be discussed, although it would not serve as a prerequisite for the talks.

Prior to the talks, the situation escalated with drone strikes on Moscow that reportedly caused damage to residential buildings, including images of a wrecked apartment complex shared by regional officials. As assessments of the drone damage continued, national sentiment in Moscow remained tense, with calls for potential retaliatory strikes against Ukraine.

Regional authorities confirmed that at least two workers at a meat warehouse tragically lost their lives due to debris from the drone attack. The ongoing conflict has triggered fears of increasing hostilities as both sides prepare for imminent negotiations on broader security guarantees and aid.

Meanwhile, crucial discussions are occurring within Europe, where various leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, have expressed the importance of U.S.-Ukrainian talks for global stability. The rising tensions and military actions complicate the geopolitical landscape as Ukrainian officials work to navigate their alliances with Western powers.

As officials await insight from both the negotiations in Jeddah and the military developments back in Ukraine, the world watches closely, apprehensive of the outcomes that could shape the war’s trajectory.