Russia and Ukraine Trade Deadly Attacks Ahead of U.S. Talks

Kyiv says representatives will meet with U.S. officials in Florida to discuss ending the war

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:18pm

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Russia and Ukraine have traded deadly strikes that killed at least four people on Saturday, just hours before expected U.S.-Ukraine talks in Miami aimed at finding a way to end the ongoing war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had sent a delegation to the U.S. to try to resume suspended U.S.-brokered talks with Russia, which have been on hold as the conflict in the Middle East has dominated international attention.

Why it matters

The attacks highlight the continued violence and lack of progress in the Russia-Ukraine war, even as both sides seek to engage in diplomatic talks to try to end the conflict. The upcoming U.S.-Ukraine meeting represents a potential opportunity to restart stalled negotiations, though significant obstacles remain to reaching any breakthrough.

The details

In the latest strikes, a Russian drone hit a house in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing a man and a woman and wounding six others, including two children. Russian strikes also knocked out power across much of the northern Ukrainian region of Chernihiv. In Russia, two women were killed and another wounded by Ukrainian shelling of the Belgorod border region.

  • The attacks occurred on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • The expected U.S.-Ukraine talks are set to take place later the same day in Miami, Florida.

The players

Volodymyr Zelensky

The President of Ukraine who said he had sent a delegation to the U.S. to try to resume suspended U.S.-brokered talks with Russia.

Dmitry Peskov

The Kremlin spokesman who said a new round of U.S.-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv would probably take place soon.

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What they’re saying

“The main goal of the meeting 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 Zelensky, President of Ukraine

“A new round of U.S.-mediated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv would probably take place soon.”

— Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.