Ukraine devastation as Putin unleashes barrage before Trump-Zelensky talks

Vladimir Putin has unleashed a wave of deadly strikes on Ukraine just hours before Volodymyr Zelensky meets Donald Trump forcrucial talks in the White House.

A girl aged one-and-a-half and a 16-year-old boy are among the five killed after a five-floor residential building was hit by multiple Russian drone strikes in Kharkiv overnight. Rescuers were scouring for survivors under the rubble of the block of flats this morning, with 30 people - including six children - left injured, and five feared dead. A total of 19 apartment buildings and 25 cars were damaged in the city, and local officials have announced an official day of mourning.

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Kharkiv governor Oleh Synyehubov said: "The enemy targeted four Geran-2 [Shahed] type UAVs at a five-story apartment building. Fires broke out in apartments on the first, third, and fifth floors.

"Destruction of ceilings and collapses were recorded."

In Zaporizhzhia, a 15-year-old was killed by Russian strikes when the family home was destroyed in a blast, while his brother, 12, and eight-year-old sister were injured, along with their parents, aged 40 and 36.

In the past 24 hours, Russian strikes have killed eight and wounded 35 across Ukraine as the world awaits Donald Trump's talks with Volodymyr Zelensky.

After meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Trump will today host the Ukrainian president along with a host of European leaders for a crucial meeting in the White House.

Planning to join Zelensky in America’s capital are Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Over the weekend, the US president ditched previous proposals for an immediate ceasefire in favour of a 'permanent' peace agreement, hinged on the expectation that Ukraine will give up some of its eastern territory currently occupied by Russia.

Putin opposes Ukraine joining NATO outright, yet Trump’s team claims the Russian leader is open to allies agreeing to defend Ukraine if it comes under attack.

Last night, Trump suggested that Ukraine could not regain Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, setting off an armed conflict that led to its broader 2022 invasion.

He wrote on Truth Social: "President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.

"Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!"

Zelenskyy appeared to respond with his own post, writing: “We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably.”

He went on to say that "peace must be lasting", pointing out that when Putin took Crimea and part of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine eight years ago, he "simply used it as a springboard for a new attack."