US and Ukraine discuss post-war rebuilding as Russia pummels grid

Ukrainian and US officials met in Geneva on Thursday for talks on postwar reconstruction, even while a deadlock in peace negotiations with Russia pounded infrastructure across Ukraine with drone and missile strikes overnight.

- By EMMA FARGE and PAVEL POLITYUK

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched 420 drones and 39 missiles in another night of attacks on energy and other critical infrastructure. Dozens of people were injured, and damage was reported across eight regions, he said.

The talks in Geneva with United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US senior advisor to the president Jared Kushner began shortly after midday, Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine’s negotiating team, said.

Proceeding with the reconstruction of Ukraine after the destruction wrought by Russian aerial strikes and frontline combat has become a major element in broader talks on how to end the war, which entered its fifth year this week.

Kyiv hopes to attract about $800 billion of public and private funds over the next 10 years, in order to rebuild the country.