- Russia rejected Ukraine’s land swap proposal.
- A Russian missile strike on Kyiv killed one person.
- Zelensky urged stronger global action against Russia.
Russia has dismissed the idea of swapping occupied Ukrainian territory for Russian land, just hours after launching a deadly missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed one person and injured several others.
The proposal, floated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggested exchanging parts of Russia’s Kursk region controlled by Ukrainian forces for Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine’s east and south.
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However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the idea outright.
“This is impossible,” Peskov told reporters on Wednesday. “Russia has never and will never discuss the topic of exchanging its territory.” He further vowed that Ukrainian forces holding Russian territory would be either “destroyed” or expelled.
Missile Strike on Kyiv
The rejection came after Russia launched a wave of missiles and drones at Ukraine’s capital, damaging homes, office buildings, and infrastructure. At least one civilian was killed, and four others, including a child, were injured.
AFP journalists reported hearing explosions in Kyiv, while rescue teams worked to extinguish fires caused by the barrage.
Zelensky condemned the attack, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is not preparing for peace, he continues to kill Ukrainians and destroy cities.” He called for “strong steps and pressure” on Russia to stop what he described as “terror.”
Moscow’s defense ministry claimed the strikes targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial facilities, particularly those producing drones, and insisted all objectives had been hit.
Diplomatic Tensions and Upcoming Talks
The attack comes amid growing discussions about potential peace negotiations. Zelensky is set to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, a meeting expected to focus heavily on the ongoing war.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, is scheduled to visit Ukraine next week to discuss a possible proposal to end the conflict, which nears its third anniversary on February 24.
Trump, who has vowed to broker peace, hinted that billions of dollars in U.S. aid could be used to pressure Kyiv into territorial concessions.
However, Ukraine has so far resisted such proposals, insisting that Russia must withdraw from all occupied areas.
Russia Advances on Battlefield
While diplomatic efforts continue, Ukraine faces increasing challenges on the battlefield. Russian forces have made gains at key points along the front line, putting additional pressure on Kyiv’s troops.
In addition to Kyiv, Russia’s latest attack also hit the northern Chernihiv region, where Governor Vyacheslav Chaus reported strikes on “critical infrastructure” that left two people injured.
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Ukraine’s air force claimed to have shot down six missiles and 71 out of 123 incoming drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones.
As the war drags on, the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough remains uncertain, with Russia signaling no willingness to compromise on territorial issues, and Ukraine demanding stronger international support to push back against Moscow’s advances.
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