Russia unleashed a wave of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine early Monday, striking residential buildings and a kindergarten in Kyiv, just days after President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed readiness to resume peace negotiations.

The Kremlin has yet to respond publicly to Zelensky’s recent appeal for fresh dialogue or to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum demanding progress toward a peace deal within 50 days or face sweeping sanctions.

President Zelensky confirmed that two people were killed in the attacks, which he described as a “brutal assault on humanity.” At least 15 others, including a 12-year-old boy, were reported injured.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Kyiv as rescue teams continued combing through debris in several neighborhoods hit by the overnight strikes.

Diplomatic efforts to end the nearly three-year conflict have lost momentum in recent weeks.

The most recent round of direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place over a month ago in Istanbul, yielding little progress beyond limited prisoner swaps.

Authorities said six districts in Kyiv were targeted in the latest onslaught, which triggered fires at a supermarket, multiple apartment complexes, and a nursery school. An AFP correspondent on the ground observed extensive damage, with shattered glass and building fragments strewn across streets.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a total of 450 drones and missiles during the offensive. Additional strikes were reported in the western region of Ivano-Frankivsk and in eastern areas including Kharkiv and Sumy.

As Russia’s aerial assault on Ukraine continued, Moscow faced disruptions of its own. Ukrainian drone attacks triggered temporary flight suspensions at Vnukovo Airport—an important hub for Russian government officials.

In Kyiv, the entrance to the Lukyanivka metro station, which has been used as a civilian shelter, sustained damage in the barrage. During a visit to the station, Minister Barrot condemned the attack, stating: “Even shelters are no longer safe for Kyiv’s residents.”

He also referenced Zelensky’s statement from Saturday, reiterating Ukraine’s openness to new negotiations.

On Friday, the European Union passed its 18th round of sanctions targeting Russia, focusing on financial institutions and reducing the oil export price cap.

Minister Barrot said the sanctions aimed to raise the cost of war for Moscow and increase pressure on President Vladimir Putin to return to the negotiating table.

Earlier this month, the Kremlin said it was open to continuing dialogue, following Trump's warning that Russia had 50 days to reach a deal or face additional penalties.

At the last round of talks, Russia demanded that Ukraine relinquish more territory and sever all ties with Western military support—conditions that Kyiv swiftly rejected as unacceptable.

President Zelensky has maintained that any future negotiations must be based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and the withdrawal of Russian forces.