2 people killed in Russia’s Saratov region as peace talks press on

At least two people were killed in a drone attack in Russia s southwestern Saratov region and parts of Ukraine were without power local government announced Saturday as U S -led peace talks on ending the war press on The drone attack damaged a residential building and several windows were also blown out at a kindergarten and clinic Saratov regional Gov Roman Busargin reported Russia s defense ministry explained Saturday it had shot down Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight In Ukraine parts of the Kherson region including the regional capital also called Kherson were without power Saturday following Russian strikes on vitality infrastructure regional head Oleksandr Prokudin commented Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter in what Ukrainian administrators call weaponizing the cold The latest round of attacks came after Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov commented Friday that Russian police and National Guard will stay on in eastern Ukraine s Donbas and oversee the industry-rich region even if a peace settlement ends Russia s nearly four-year war in Ukraine This underscores Moscow s ambition to maintain its presence in Donbas post-war Ukraine is likely to reject such a stance as U S -led negotiations drag on Moscow will give its blessing to a ceasefire only after Ukraine s forces have withdrawn from the front line Ushakov commented in comments published in Russian business daily Kommersant Meanwhile Germany says it is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday for talks as peace efforts gain momentum and European leaders seek to steer negotiations For months American negotiators have tried to deal with the demands of each side as U S President Donald Trump presses for a swift end to Russia s war while growing increasingly exasperated by delays The search for manageable compromises has run into a major obstacle over who keeps Ukrainian territory as of now occupied by Russian forces Source