Russian missile strikes Kyiv again, Ukrainian president and mayor quarrel

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) Temperatures across Ukraine are continuing to drop, and the Russian military has taken advantage of this to launch another large-scale attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. On the evening of November 6 and the early morning of November 7, explosions were heard multiple times in the center of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, and its surrounding areas.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that the attack used hypersonic ballistic missiles, which are extremely difficult for air defense systems to intercept. The attack damaged several residential buildings. Military authorities also reported that a kindergarten was damaged and two other people were injured in the attack.

Klitschko said that the current power supply situation in Kiev is "extremely difficult." In addition, water and central heating services were also affected by the attack. A key bridge across the Dnieper River, connecting the east and west banks of Kiev, was also damaged. A total of five people were injured, according to Klitschko.

President and mayor bickering

Prior to this, Ukrainian President Zelensky had recorded a video warning that Russia might launch another attack on energy infrastructure and bridges across the Dnieper River. After widespread power outages in Kiev and other places, Zelensky criticized Klitschko again on November 7, saying: "This is because the municipal level failed to implement relevant decisions, resulting in a failure to prepare for the heating season and Russian attacks on energy facilities."

Klitschko retorted on Telegram: "How on earth can the capital stop this 'Russian special operation against the Ukrainian energy sector'?" He pointed out that Kyiv has begun to provide central heating since October 16.

In addition to Kyiv, power grids in other parts of Ukraine have also been severely damaged. Zelensky described the attack on energy infrastructure as a "hybrid" attack that included 36 missiles and more than 170 drones.

In addition, in the southern Ukrainian village of Komyschuwacha, an aid distribution point was hit by a Russian air strike, killing 55 people.

There is little hope for a ceasefire

Ukraine, Russia and the United States plan to hold consultations in the United Arab Emirates next week - the first such talks between the parties in quite some time. According to the Russian Interfax news agency, Russia plans to send a high-level delegation composed of diplomats and military officials, among which Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov will join the negotiating team for the first time.

However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius believes that the hope of achieving a ceasefire in the near future is very slim. In an interview with Germany's Funk Media Group on November 7, he said that whether the situation can turn around depends on the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Trump. “The past few months have shown that Trump’s approach makes it difficult to quickly bring about a ceasefire, let alone peace.”

Ukraine worries about becoming a bargaining chip in trilateral summit between US, China and Russia

Just two days ago, U.S. President Trump claimed that a "very significant" agreement aimed at ending the Russian-Ukrainian war was in the making and involved Russia. Earlier, Trump had an unplanned meeting with Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House. "This will be a very major agreement. It will not only cover Ukraine - it may even involve the entire Europe." Trump also emphasized that ending the war may require the participation of "the entire Europe."

In an interview with CNN, Ukrainian President Zelensky warned about the so-called "New European Security Order Concept" proposed by the Trump administration. "Frankly speaking, this is by no means easy, and may even be dangerous. ... If they don't talk about how to end the war, it is very dangerous. Russia wants to start talking directly about building a new European security architecture." Zelensky also emphasized that he opposed major powers reaching any agreement at the expense of the EU, NATO and their own national interests. He said: "We all live in Europe. We do not want a recurrence of 'Yalta.'" At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom held a summit in Yalta on the Crimean Peninsula to divide their spheres of influence in post-war Europe.

U.S. President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to hold trilateral meetings at the APEC Summit in Shenzhen in mid-November and the G20 Summit in Florida early next year.