Ukraine crisis: Three die, 17 injured after Russia strikes Kharkiv ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting in Washington

A ballistic missile attack shook a residential area in Ukraine’s second-largest city Sunday night and a drone attack killed the young tot Monday morning, the larger Kharkiv region’s governor Oleh Synehubov said on the Telegram messaging app, reported New York Post.

According to reports, the injured people inlcuded children.

Officials told the newspaper that the casualty count was “continuously increasing” as rescue teams dig through the rubble for trapped victims and possible survivors.

Kharkiv is located close to the Russian border.

It has often faced Russian strikes since the conflict began in 2022.

Trump's Truth Social post on Zelenskyy ahead of meeting him

US President Donald Trump, who is likely to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, has assessed that the Ukrainian President can end the ongoing war with Russia if he 'wants to'.

Trump ruled out Ukraine's inclusion in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

In his Truth Social post, Trump referred to the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 during former President Barack Obama's regime.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said: "President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight."

He said: "Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!"

Zelenskyy in Washington DC

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President has arrived in Washington DC to meet Trump on Monday.

Zelenkyy wrote on X: "I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump. Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation."

Zelenskyy expressed hope that Ukraine, the US and other European leaders will be successful in forcing Russia to reach a peace deal.

"We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably. And peace must be lasting. Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East—part of Donbas—and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack. Or when Ukraine was given so called “security guarantees” in 1994, but they didn't work. Of course, Crimea should not have been given up then, just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022," he said.

"Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their independence. Now, our soldiers have successes in Donetsk and Sumy regions. I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance. Russia must end this war, which it itself started. And I hope that our joint strength with America, with our European friends, will force Russia into a real peace. Thank you!" he said.

Friday’s Alaska summit marked the first US-Russia meeting since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The three-hour session ended without a ceasefire, but Trump insisted the talks had shifted the focus toward a broader settlement.

“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.