Russian Drone Strike Kills 2 in Zaporizhzhia as Ukraine Seeks U.S. Talks

Attack comes ahead of expected U.S.-Ukraine discussions on resuming peace negotiations

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:53pm

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A Russian drone attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least two people, a Ukrainian official said, ahead of expected U.S.-Ukraine talks. The attack came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had sent an official delegation to the United States in a bid to move forward suspended U.S.-brokered talks on ending Russia's invasion.

Why it matters

The strike on Zaporizhzhia highlights the ongoing conflict and violence in Ukraine, even as the country seeks to re-engage the U.S. in peace negotiations. The talks are seen as crucial to finding a diplomatic solution to end the war, which has dragged on for years and caused immense suffering.

The details

According to Ukrainian officials, a Russian drone hit a private house in Zaporizhzhia, killing a man and a woman and wounding two children. The attack came just before expected talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Miami, which Zelenskyy said would focus on resuming the U.S.-brokered negotiations with Russia and securing continued American weapons support for Ukraine.

  • The drone attack occurred on Saturday morning in Zaporizhzhia.
  • The expected U.S.-Ukraine talks were reported to take place later on the same day in Miami.

The players

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The President of Ukraine, who said he had sent an official delegation to the U.S. to discuss resuming peace talks with Russia.

Ivan Fedorov

The head of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, who confirmed the deadly drone strike in the city.

Marco Rubio

The U.S. Secretary of State, who was previously photographed shaking hands with the Secretary of the National Security of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov.

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What they’re saying

“The pause is temporary, we hope it's temporary regarding the continuation of the trilateral format.”

— Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman

“The main tasks in the U.S. will be to ensure that the trilateral talks resume and that Washington continues to allow other NATO countries to purchase American weapons to send to Ukraine.”

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This attack underscores the ongoing violence in Ukraine and the urgency for the U.S. and Ukraine to re-engage in peace negotiations, which are seen as crucial to finding a diplomatic solution to end the long-running conflict.