Extract from ABC News
Ukrainian officials say apartment buildings across Kyiv were struck by Russia's barrage. (AP: Efrem Lukatsky)
In short:
Russia has continued its nightly drone attacks on Kyiv, as Ukraine's allies pledged a "coalition of the willing" headquarters would open in Paris.
A Ukrainian intelligence officer was killed in an apparent assassination, while drone attacks killed two others, wounded 23 people and caused damage in nearly every part of the Ukrainian capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had received positive signals the US would resume military aid, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Washington was “disappointed” with the lack of progress on ending the conflict.
Russia has intensified its air assault on Ukraine as allies vowed to support Kyiv with fresh weaponry and a "coalition of the willing" headquarters based in Paris.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow launched more than 400 drones and 18 missiles, primarily targeting the capital.
Two people were killed and 23 people injured in the strikes.
Separately, officials said a senior Ukrainian intelligence officer was gunned down in broad daylight in a Kyiv car park.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) did not identify the victim, but Ukrainian media outlets named him as Colonel Ivan Voronych.
It came a day after Russia conducted its largest-ever aerial assault on Ukraine, launching over 700 drones in a single night.
Speaking in Rome, where the fourth annual Ukraine Recovery conference was being held, Mr Zelenskyy said he had received "all necessary political signals" from the US that American military aid would be resumed.
It came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Washington was "disappointed" at the lack of progress on ending the three-year conflict.
Both sides described the call, on Thursday, as "frank".
Timetable for US weaponry
Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had a timetable for upcoming weapons supplies and was engaged in a dialogue with the US about acquiring the Patriot missile interceptor systems it has been requesting to protect against air attacks on its cities.
The missiles could be paid for by Germany or Norway, he said.
"Germany is ready, we have agreements with them, that they will buy two systems for Ukraine," he said.
"Norway — I have a bilateral agreement — will pay for one system."
Headquarters to open in Paris
Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed there would be a "coalition of the willing" headquarters.
The coalition, formed amid questions over the US's commitment to Ukraine, is made up of countries wanting to help a post-war Ukraine defend itself.
Mr Macron and Mr Starmer agreed the headquarters would be in Paris and led by Britain and France to oversee all tactical and operational arrangements.
The HQ will then rotate to London after the first 12 months.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are spearheading efforts to secure Ukraine's post-war security. (Reuters: Leon Neal)
"As close partners and NATO allies, the UK and France have a deep history of defence collaboration and today's agreements take our partnership to the next level," Mr Starmer said.
Among other new details unveiled by the two leaders was that US representatives, including Special Presidential Envoy General Keith Kellogg, Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal, joined a virtual meeting of the coalition.
It comes amid US President Donald Trump's growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
'This is terror'
Attacks on Kyiv have significantly intensified in recent days.
Russia says it targeted Kyiv's "military industrial" sites. (Reuters: Gleb Garanich)
News organisations reported explosions and anti-aircraft machine gun fire rattling the city on Wednesday night.
Windows were blown out, facades ravaged and cars burned to shells, including in the city centre, where an apartment in an eight-storey building was engulfed in flames.
"Residential buildings, vehicles, warehouse facilities, offices and non-residential buildings are on fire," said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, on the Telegram messaging app.
Kyiv residents were forced to shelter in underground locations during Russia's attacks. (AP: Evgeniy Maloletka)
Russia's Defence Ministry said it had hit "military-industrial" targets.
Karyna Volf, a 25-year-old Kyiv resident, rushed out of her apartment moments before shards of glass showered her home.
"This is terror because it happens every night when people are asleep," she said.
US and Russia's 'frank' talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during an ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur, said he had reinforced Mr Trump's message that Moscow should have shown more flexibility in peace talks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he had a "frank" meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (Reuters: Mandel Ngan)
"We need to see a road map moving forward about how this conflict can conclude," Mr Rubio said.
He added that the Trump administration had been engaging with the US Senate on what new sanctions on Russia might look like.
"It was a frank conversation. It was an important one," Mr Rubio said.
The talks came days after Mr Trump expressed increasing frustration with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and a lack of progress towards a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire.
Mr Trump said Mr Putin was talking "a lot of bullshit" and that he was "very unhappy" with the Russian leader.
Donald Trump says he is not happy with Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian security officer killed on street
The killer responsible for gunning down the Ukrainian intelligence officer fled on foot in broad daylight, according to authorities and video footage verified by Reuters.
Kyiv's police force said it was working to identify the shooter and that "measures are being taken to detain him".
The SBU is Ukraine's sprawling domestic spy agency, which has a staff of thousands.
The agency said it had opened a criminal investigation into the murder of one of its employees in Kyiv's southern Holosiivskyi district but did not identify him.
The agency's main remit covers security and counterintelligence, but since Russia's 2022 invasion it has also played a prominent role in special operations against Moscow, including assassinations and sabotage attacks far behind the front line.
Neither the SBU nor the police gave possible motives for the killing.
"The Security Service and the National Police are taking a comprehensive set of measures to clarify all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice," the SBU said in a statement.
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