Russia and Ukraine Exchange Strikes Amid Peace Talks

Russia and Ukraine exchanged large-scale airstrikes on November 5, 2026, as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensified. Ukraine deployed hundreds of drones across 13 Russian regions, causing a reported blaze at the Ryazan oil refinery. Russia responded with drone strikes in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, following a previous attack in Komyshuvakha where 42 bodies were recovered.

Amidst the violence, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zelenskyy stated that negotiations must move forward at "full throttle" to end the war as quickly as possible, adding that Ukraine is ready to take necessary steps.

In Brussels, Ukrainian lead negotiator Rustem Umerov met with officials from NATO, the European Union, and the United States. The discussions focused on 2027 funding, post-war reconstruction, and security guarantees to counter Russian threats to Europe. These diplomatic engagements serve as a prelude to a scheduled summit in Abu Dhabi between negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.