In the firing of an Oreshnik ballistic missile at Ukraine in 2024, Russia struck an aerospace factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. But it caused only minimal damage as it carried dummy warheads, suggesting a purely symbolic use of the weapon.

The United Kingdom and France have agreed to deploy forces in Ukraine if it strikes a peace deal with Russia, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, in a renewed push by Western leaders to guarantee Kyiv’s post-war security and deter Moscow from further aggression.

Britain and France may have pledged to put “boots on the ground” in Ukraine, but Germany is taking a back seat on the peacekeeping operation.

U.S., European and Ukrainian representatives are gathering in Paris on Wednesday for talks regarding a potential peace deal to end Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday pressed allies for ironclad security guarantees against any renewed Russian attack while also seeking progress on EU membership talks and tougher sanctions on Moscow.

An explicit commitment that Washington would backstop Kyiv was scrapped in the leaders’ final joint statement.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia's latest strikes on electricity, heating and water infrastructure in Ukraine, which left hundreds of thousands in southeastern Ukraine without power and heat.

A shift in Washington’s stance has emerged as Ukraine’s allies met in Paris to discuss the future of the war and the terms of any ceasefire. The gathering signalled renewed diplomatic momentum, even as major questions remain unanswered.