Zelensky: Russian attacks on Kiev airports before US visit

Shortly before the expected visit of US negotiators to Kiev, Russian armed forces shelled the capital's airports, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Zhuliany and Boryspil airports were demonstratively attacked for the first time in some time, he wrote on social networks.

Zelensky assumed that Moscow wanted to spread uncertainty before the Americans arrived. “The Russian hits on the airports are a response to the discussions and preparations for the US side to come to Ukraine by plane and land at Kiev airport or Boryspil,” he wrote. Ukraine will plan its drone attacks to paralyze Russian air traffic next week accordingly, he threatened.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, are expected to make their first visit to Kiev on Sunday. Before that, they should speak to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in Moscow. There had already been reports of a Russian drone attack on Schuljany on Friday. Nothing was known about any damage or injuries.

Civilian air traffic in Ukraine has been at a standstill since the beginning of the major Russian invasion in 2022. For Witkoff to fly safely to Kiev, Ukrainian permits but also Russian security guarantees would be required. Zhuliany is the old airport of the Ukrainian capital and is located in the city area. When it became too small, a new international airport was built in the district town of Boryspil, about 20 kilometers east of Kiev.