The Kremlin has said it welcomed US President Donald Trump's desire to focus on the search for a peace settlement to end the conflict in Ukraine after achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia remained open to talks and hoped that the US could bring its influence to bear on Ukraine in pursuit of a peace deal.
Russian forces launched powerful glide bombs and drones against Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, in overnight attacks, hitting a hospital and wounding seven people, an official said.
It came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepared to travel to Washington on Friday and ask US President Donald Trump for more US military support.
The Russian attack on Kharkiv in Ukraine’s north east hit the city’s main hospital, forcing the evacuation of 50 patients, regional head Oleh Syniehubov said.
The attack’s main targets were energy facilities, Mr Zelensky said, without providing further details.
"Every day, every night, Russia strikes power plants, power lines, and our (natural) gas facilities," Mr Zelensky said on Telegram.
Russian long-range strikes on its neighbour’s power grid are part of a campaign since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022 to disable Ukraine’s power supply, denying civilians heat and running water during the bitter winter.
The Ukrainian leader urged foreign countries to help blunt Russia’s long-range attacks by providing more air defence systems for the country, which is hard to defend from the air in its entirety.
"We are counting on the actions of the US and Europe, the G7, all partners who have these systems and can provide them to protect our people," Mr Zelensky said.
"The world must force Moscow to sit down at the table for real negotiations."
The talk between the US and Ukrainian leaders is expected to centre on the potential US provision to Ukraine of sophisticated long-range weapons that can hit back at Russia.
Mr Trump has warned Moscow that he may send Tomahawk cruise missiles for Ukraine to use.
Such a move, previously ruled out by Washington for fear of escalating the war, would deepen tensions between the United States and Russia.
But it could provide leverage to help push Moscow into negotiations after Mr Trump expressed frustration over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to budge on key aspects of a possible peace deal.
Tomahawks would sharpen Ukraine’s ability to fight back against Russia, though its long-range attacks are already taking a toll on Russian oil production, Ukrainian officials and foreign military analysts say.
Its strikes using newly developed long-range missiles and drones are causing significant gas shortages in Russia, according to Mr Zelensky.
'Important not to lose the momentum for advancing peace' - Zelensky
Mr Zelensky said as the war in the Middle East comes to an end, "it is important not to lose the momentum for advancing peace".
"The war in Europe can also be brought to an end, and for that, the leadership of both the United States and other partners is of utmost importance," he said on X.
He said the right actions by the United States can also help bring an end to Russia's war against Ukraine.
"We have a corresponding vision for this," he added.
Russia strikes UN aid convoy in south Ukraine, says Kyiv
Russian forces struck a UN aid convoy in the partially-occupied southern Kherson region of Ukraine, Kyiv said, adding there were no casualties in the attack.
The head of the region's military administration said the Russian drone and artillery attack happened near the frontline town of Bilozerka.
"The occupiers deliberately targeted UN OCHA trucks with drones and artillery," local official Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on social media.
He said there were four vehicles in the convoy and that "one vehicle burned down, another was seriously damaged," with the two others unscathed.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga called the strike "another brutal violation of international law, proving Russia's utter disregard for civilian lives and its international obligations".
Additional reporting by AFP and Reuters
