Ukraine drones hit buildings near Kremlin amid US envoy-Putin meeting
What's the story
Ukraine carried out drone attacks in central Moscow on Friday, hitting buildings not far from the Kremlin.
The strike is particularly notable as it happened during Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Russia for secret talks with officials.
According to Russian news outlets, Witkoff left Moscow in the early hours of Friday morning after meeting with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin late Thursday.
Defense response
Russian air defenses intercept drones; fire breaks out
Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defenses intercepted four drones.
Emergency services were sent to the sites hit by these Ukrainian drones.
A massive fire occurred at Rosneft PJSC's Tuapse oil refinery, among Russia's largest, following the drone strikes.
The blaze engulfed an area of over 1,000 square meters, but there were no casualties.
Diplomatic efforts
Witkoff's secret visit and talks with Russian officials
The meeting at the Kremlin reportedly took place just hours after Putin's cautious response to Washington's proposed 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
"The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it," Putin told a news conference in Moscow.
"But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to talk about it with our American colleagues and partners and, perhaps, have a call with President Trump and discuss it with him," he answered.
Envoy's return
Witkoff departs Moscow after potential meeting with Putin
Neither the US nor the Kremlin have officially confirmed the reported meeting.
However, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News that Witkoff was "bringing things back for us to evaluate and for President Trump to make decisions on next steps" and "cautious optimism" on a potential ceasefire.
Witkoff's secret visit also appeared to be confirmed by state-run RIA Novosti, which used flight tracking data to report a plane linked to him had apparently left Moscow at around 2:00am.