At least 30 people were killed in Russian strikes in Ukraine after two buses were reportedly blown up in the frontline city of Kramatorsk, Ukrainian authorities said on Thursday. Kyiv accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians in one of the deadliest attacks reported in recent weeks. The incident came as Ukrainian and US officials prepared for talks scheduled for Friday and Saturday in the United States, amid warnings that the prolonged stalemate in the war could lead to further escalation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the reported attack and vowed that it “will not go unanswered”. Photographs shared by local authorities showed the burnt-out metal remains of the vehicles, with bodies and debris scattered across the road.

Zelensky warned that the death toll could rise, although the final number of casualties had not been confirmed in the supplied report. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of striking civilians, while further details about the circumstances of the incident remained awaited. In a message posted on Telegram, Zelensky said Russia was attempting to destroy life in the Donbas region and called on the international community to respond. Kramatorsk, located in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, has remained an important frontline city during the conflict. The reported destruction of the buses and the number of people killed underscored the continuing risks faced by civilians in areas affected by fighting. Independent confirmation of the reported circumstances and responsibility for the incident was not included in the initial account.

The attack came as diplomatic efforts continued alongside the fighting. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the current stalemate, after nearly five years of war, as “very dangerous” and warned that it could lead to escalation. His remarks reflected concerns about the conflict’s prolonged course and the difficulties involved in finding a diplomatic path forward. The latest reported casualties added urgency to discussions about security, civilian protection and possible proposals for negotiations. Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian negotiators were travelling to the United States for talks with an American team on Friday and Saturday. Kyiv was also hoping that European representatives would join the negotiating group. According to US sources cited by Agence France-Presse, officials from Britain, France, Germany, NATO and the European Union had been invited to participate.

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Their involvement would bring representatives from several European governments and institutions into discussions about possible approaches to ending or reducing the conflict. A US source familiar with the preparations told AFP that the participants would discuss new ideas and proposals developed by American negotiators during recent visits to the region, where they had engaged with Russian and Ukrainian representatives. The source did not provide details of the proposals or indicate whether the discussions were expected to produce a specific agreement. The planned meetings were therefore set to focus on exploring possible diplomatic options, with the participation of European representatives still a key consideration for Kyiv. The talks are taking place against the backdrop of continued military action and sharply differing positions over the war.

The prolonged fighting has made diplomatic progress difficult, while attacks and reported civilian casualties continue to shape the security situation. The planned US meetings offer an opportunity for officials to discuss proposals, but the supplied information does not establish whether the participants have reached common ground on the main issues separating the parties. Any progress would depend on the positions adopted during the discussions and the willingness of the sides to pursue further negotiations. For Ukraine, the reported deaths in Kramatorsk have reinforced its demand for an international response to attacks it says are directed at civilians. Zelensky’s warning that the incident would not go unanswered signalled Kyiv’s condemnation, although the report did not specify what actions Ukraine might take. Meanwhile, Rubio’s comments highlighted US concerns that the continued stalemate could become more dangerous. As the delegations prepare to meet, the latest violence and the search for diplomatic proposals remain central developments in the conflict.

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