Russia attacked Ukraine's capital with ballistic missiles and drones on Saturday, killing two people and wounding 46, a day before talks between the leaders of Ukraine and the United States, which is scheduled at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Ongoing military actions

The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that it carried out a "massive strike" overnight on December 27, using "long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles" and drones. The attack continued throughout the morning, with a nearly 10-hour air raid alert in the capital of Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it targeted energy infrastructure facilities used by Ukraine's forces and military-industrial enterprises, but said residential buildings were also struck, according to Reuters.

Over 500,000 people in Kyiv and the Kyiv region are left without electricity due to the attack, and over 22,000 consumers in the Chernihiv region remain without power, according to Artem Nekrasov, Ukrainian Acting Minister of Energy, in a Telegram post.

"This attack is Russia's answer on our peace efforts. It really shows that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin doesn't want peace," Zelenskyy said after the air strike.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed 111 Ukrainian drones in three hours over six Russian regions, including eight over Moscow. The capital's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said another batch of 11 drones was also later shot down en route to the city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia could see Kyiv was in no hurry to end the Ukraine conflict by peaceful means, Interfax news agency reported on the same day. He said that if Ukraine did not want to resolve the conflict peacefully, then Russia would accomplish all goals of its "special military operation" by force, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Russian commanders told Putin that Moscow's forces had captured the towns of Myrnohrad, Rodynske and Artemivka in the Donetsk region, as well as Huliaipole and Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region, the Kremlin and Russian agencies said on Telegram.

Ukraine has not responded to Russia's claimed seizure of Huilaipole yet.

Ukraine gains support from Canada ahead of peace talks

Zelenskyy will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday for further talks on ending the nearly four-year war.

Trump anticipates positive results from the upcoming talks. "I think it's going to go good with him (Zelenskyy). I think it's going to go good with Putin," he said. He also told reporters that "he (Zelenskyy) doesn't have anything until I approve it. So we'll see what he's got." 

Before the planned talks, Zelenskyy met in Halifax with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who committed to 2.5 billion Canadian dollars (about $1.83 billion) in aid for Ukraine. This includes financing that will enable the International Monetary Fund to lend to Ukraine, as well as other debt service suspension and loan guarantee programs.

Carney affirmed Canada's full support for Ukraine. They also participated in a call with European leaders to advance joint efforts for Ukraine's security and recovery.

"Canada has committed new support to Ukraine, not only to help end this war but also to help the Ukrainian people recover and rebuild," said Carney.

Both countries have been steadfast on their red lines for the upcoming negotiations. Putin told some of Russia's top businessmen in a briefing on December 24 that he might be open to swapping some territories controlled by Russian forces in Ukraine, but that he wanted the whole of Donbas, the Kommersant newspaper reported.

Zelenskyy has been firm that Ukraine will not legally acknowledge Russia's seizure of Ukrainian land under any conditions. He also emphasized that Ukraine has firm red lines on "sensitive matters" such as territories and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). He emphasized the significance of gaining legal protections for the promised security. 

(With input from agencies)