Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky ‘not ready’ to sign US minerals deal

Russia launched several waves of missile and drone attacks overnight targeting Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, killing one civilian in Kryvyi Rih and damaging buildings and cars in Kyiv and elsewhere.

A man died in a hospital and a 30-year-old woman was seriously injured in the missile attacks on the central city of Kryvyi Rih, Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said.

A 53-year-old woman was also injured and several residential houses damaged in an attack on the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, said Ivan Fedorov, governor of the region.

Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that will mark its third anniversary on Monday and which Russia started with a full-scale invasion in February 2022 of its smaller neighbour.

Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, however, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.

Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership” pact in Pyongyang on 19 June, 2024, including a mutual defence clause in case of aggression against either country.

Kim expressed “unconditional support” for “all of Russia’s policies”, including “a full support and firm alliance” for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Putin has said Russia would help North Korea build satellites.

The US and South Korea say North Korea has shipped ballistic missiles, anti-tank rockets and millions of rounds of ammunition for Russia to use in the war. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied weapons transfers.

Ukraine, South Korea and the US say Kim has sent more than 11,000 troops to fight for Russia in its western Kursk region, part of which has been held by Ukraine since August. Ukraine says many North Korean soldiers have been killed and wounded. Moscow has never confirmed or denied their presence.

One woman was killed and three others were injured in Russia’s guided bomb attacks on the industrial city of Kostiantynivka in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian officials said late on Saturday.

“The enemy once again hit a residential building in Kostiantynivka – an investigation has been launched into the death of one and the injury of three civilians,” the regional prosecutor’s office said on the Telegram messaging app.

Ukraine’s state emergency service said on its Telegram channel that rescuers have since recovered the body of the 70-year-old woman from under the rubble and that three other women were also injured.

Seven apartment buildings and 14 other buildings were damaged in the attack, the service said.

The prosecutor’s office and the emergency service posted photos showing what looked like an apartment building that was partially collapsed with all windows blown out.

There was no immediate comment from Russia.

Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with its full-scale invasion three years ago. But thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.

US negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine’s critical minerals have raised the possibility of cutting the country’s access to Elon Musk’s vital Starlink satellite internet system, three sources familiar with the matter said.

Ukraine’s continued access to SpaceX-owned Starlink was brought up in discussions between US and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turned down an initial proposal from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the sources said.

Mr Trump has demanded preferential access to around $500bn of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as repayment for US military support provided to Kyiv by his predecessor Joe Biden over the last three years.

However, Mr Zelensky rejected the plan as “unserious” and said it did not provide any security guarantees in the event of a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow.

US president Donald Trump is confident that a Russia-Ukraine deal could get done “this week”, Karoline Leavitt, the White House’s press secretary, has said.

Europe must be at the negotiating table for any peace talks with Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Mr Zelensky said “Ukraine’s security is inseparable from Europe’s security” after having a “productive talk” with British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

“We coordinated our military cooperation, joint steps, and engagements for the coming week, which will be very active,” Mr Zelensky said.

“The UK and its people are among Ukraine’s biggest supporters, and we deeply appreciate this.”

The US has so far only sat down with Russia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for talks.

US president Donald Trump has dismissed the idea of Kyiv joining peace talks, claiming Zelensky “held no cards” and would only be obstacle to peace.

Meeting the needs of troops fighting in Ukraine and boosting the armed forces are Russia’s key strategic priorities, Russian president Vladimir Putin said.

“Today, in the context of rapid changes in the world, our strategic course to strengthen and develop the armed forces remains unchanged,” Putin said in a video on the Kremlin’s channel on the Telegram messaging app early on Sunday.

The message marked Russia’s annual Defender of the Fatherland Day, which celebrates the armed forces.