Russian drone attack kills two in Ukraine ahead of talks in US, officials say

Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack on a home in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, local authorities say.

Two children, 11 and 15, were also injured in the attack which took place on the eve of new talks between Ukrainian and American negotiators in the US.

Negotiations on ending the war have been on hold since the start of the latest conflict in Iran. President Volodymy Zelensky wants his negotiators to discuss the US decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil - implemented by Washington to help keep down global energy prices.

Talks mediated by the US have so far failed to stop the fighting in Ukraine or change Russia's demands, and there is little hope of a breakthrough.

A friend of one of the victims told the Reuters news agency: "I stopped believing long ago. When will this all just end? When will they finally reach an agreement?

"How long can they keep negotiating? Just give it to the Russian side so hard that it hurts them as much as it hurts us."

The mother of one of the victims told Reuters that she had been staying at a friend's apartment at the time of the strike.

"When the strike happened I checked a Telegram channel and I saw their fence and my son's car," she added.

On the agenda for the US talks is setting up another trilateral meeting involving Russia, as well as efforts to smooth over the rocky relationship between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, who has accused the Ukrainian leader of being the main obstacle to peace.

Ukraine is also offering the US its drone expertise and technology - which could be useful in fighting and defending against Iran.

Russian forces have frequently targeted Zaporizhzhia since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Zaporizhzhia is one of Ukraine's four south-eastern regions Russia has annexed, without fully controlling any of them.

Speaking to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg last week, Zelensky said Ukraine faced a deficit of missiles due to the war in the Middle East which was ignited by US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The Ukrainian president said Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, wanted a "long war" between the US, Israel and Iran because it would weaken Kyiv, with US resources being directed elsewhere.

The Trump administration's decision to ease its sanctions on countries buying Russian oil earlier this month was welcomed by the Kremlin but sparked deep concerns among Ukrainians.

The US waiver, active for one month, will make it easier for countries to buy up Russian oil.

Pro-Ukraine campaigners have said it marks a symbolic shift in the Western consensus away from applying maximum pressure on Russia.