Ukraine LIVE: Kyiv launches massive attack just hours ahead of crunch talks

Ukraine is believed to have launched a massive attack inside Russia overnight, hours before European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, are to convene in a call with Donald Trump. In the early hours of Tuesday, a fire broke out in the industrial zone of Yaroslavl, with a column of smoke and flames visible from miles away.

The cause of the fire is still unconfirmed, with Russian officials not immediately blaming Ukraine for the blaze. Elsewhere in western Russia, in Stavropol, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck the Monocrystal synthetic sapphire plant. A fire erupted in the building, and mayor Ivan Ulyanchenko said windows of a residential complex were shattered and cars were damaged by a drone attack. Russia also carried out attacks on Ukraine overnight, with officials in Dnipropetrovsk saying a woman was injured and two apartment buildings damaged following artillery shelling. The fight is continuing also on the frontline, with Ukraine recapturing some territory in its east, with the military claiming to have taken the settlements of Stepne and Novokostiantynivka.

European leaders will be in touch with Mr Trump on Wednesday, two days before the highly-anticipated summit between the US President and Vladimir Putin, during which they will discuss possible options for peace in Ukraine.

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