By Fatma Younis
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump will host representatives from Ukraine and Russia at the White House on Thursday, marking what the administration called an “extraordinary moment in American history” and an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by a first lady. The announcement came as Russia launched a massive overnight barrage of drones and missiles against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and struck a school used for aid distribution in Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 33 people.
White House summit details
Melania Trump’s office said she would personally bring unnamed officials from the warring countries together and deliver remarks about a ceasefire in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky, which she helped broker. The White House described the meeting as an unprecedented diplomatic effort by an American first lady.
Major Russian attacks on energy grid
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles overnight, hitting power plants and substations from Odesa in the south to Rivne in the west. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the power situation in the capital as “extremely difficult” and warned the attacks threaten nuclear safety across Europe. Ukraine’s largest private generator, DTEK, reported three of its five thermal power plants knocked offline.
Deadly school strike in Zaporizhzhia
A Russian strike on Monday hit a school being used for aid distribution in the village of Komyshuvakha, killing at least 33 people, including two rescue workers and four police officers, according to local emergency services.
Poland reports border provocation
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said police were deployed to the border with Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave after “individuals with flashlights” were spotted crossing amid rising tensions over airspace violations and diplomatic disputes.
Zelensky urges stronger European role
Speaking at the Berlin Security Conference, Zelensky thanked Germany for its support but warned that as the United States’ global role shrinks, Europe’s must grow. He said without Europe, Ukraine would not have survived, and called for greater European commitment to freedom and security.
Other developments
Crimea enforced power cuts after an unspecified incident, while a drone attack in Russia’s Adygeya Republic set fire to a logistics hub of retailer Ozon. Ukraine is investigating clashes at a military dormitory near Kyiv that authorities believe were engineered to discredit the war effort. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, hosting Zelensky in Berlin, said Russia must show seriousness about peace ahead of U.S.-brokered talks scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi.
