Senior Russian killed in car explosion near Moscow, as US envoy meets Putin
There was no official comment from Kyiv on the death of 59-year-old Yaroslav Moskalik on Friday local time.
It is the second such attack on a top Russian military officer in four months, Russia's top criminal investigation agency has confirmed.
Investigators work the scene where Yaroslav Moskalik was killed.
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AP Photo
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It said the lieutenant general was killed by an explosive device rigged with shrapnel, placed in his car in Balashikha, just outside Moscow.
"The Kyiv regime once again simply shows its true nature," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a state TV reporter.
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It shows once again that, despite the peace talks, we must be on guard and understand the nature of this regime.
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Mr Moskalik was a deputy head of the main operational department in the general staff of the Russian armed forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
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Reuters: Kremlin.ru
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Trump's envoy meets Putin
Mr Moskalik's death came hours before Mr Witkoff met Mr Putin in Moscow to discuss US proposals for ending the three-year war.
US President Donald Trump said it was a key moment in diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine, suggesting a deal is "very close".
"We are thinking very strongly that they both want peace," he told reporters on Thursday.
"This next few days is going to be very important.
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I think we're going to make a deal ... I think we're getting very close.
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Photo shows
Rescuers look for survivors amid the rubble of a building
The US president demands Moscow ceases bombarding the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as Washington attempts to broker a peace deal.
Mr Witkoff has emerged as Washington's key interlocutor with Mr Putin as the US president pushes for a deal to end the war, and has already held three long meetings with the Kremlin leader.
The envoy's latest visit to Moscow comes a day after Trump criticised Russia's attack on Kyiv that killed at least 12 people, posting on social media: "Vladimir, STOP!"
Kyiv mayor says it may have to give up land
Meanwhile the mayor of Kyiv told the BBC on Friday local time that Ukraine may have to give up land in order to strike a peace deal with Russia.
Vitali Klitschko said ceding some territory to Vladimir Putin could unlock negotiations with Moscow and help bring about an end to the three-year war.
His comments come days after a Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv claimed 12 lives.
The Kyiv mayor said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might be forced to accept a "painful solution" to achieve peace.
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Reuters: Valentyn Ogirenko
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"One of the scenarios is … to give up territory," Mr Klitschko said.
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It's not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary.
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The mayor said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might be forced to accept a "painful solution", although the Ukrainian people would "never accept occupation" by Russia.
The Kyiv mayor said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might be forced to accept a "painful solution" to achieve peace.
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Reuters: Thomas Peter
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Since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has gained control of around 2 per cent of Ukrainian territory, having annexed Crimea in 2014.
Mr Trump floated the prospect of Ukraine giving up Crimea in a post on Truth Social earlier this week.
Reuters/AP
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