Kyiv under air alert as Trump, Zelensky meet at White House for high-stakes peace talks

A boy walks past a destroyed tank at an open air exhibition of destroyed Russian military equipment in Kyiv on August 13, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)

Air raid sirens rang out across Kyiv on Monday, AFP reporters confirmed, just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s crucial talks with US leader Donald Trump in Washington.

According to the Ukrainian air force, the nationwide alert was triggered after a Russian MiG-31 — capable of carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles frequently used by Moscow in strikes — was detected taking off.

Ahead of the peace talks, the Ukrainian president took to X to state his expectations.

"Our main goal is a reliable and lasting peace for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe. And it is important that the momentum of all our meetings lead to precisely this result. We understand that we shouldn't expect Putin to voluntarily abandon aggression and new attempts at conquest. That is why pressure must work, and it must be joint pressure – from the United States and Europe, and from everyone in the world who respects the right to life and the international order," Zelensky said in his post.

"We must stop the killings, and I thank our partners who are working toward this and ultimately toward a reliable and dignified peace. Together with the leaders of Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, the European Commission, and the NATO Secretary General, we coordinated our positions ahead of the meeting with President Trump. Ukraine is ready for a real truce and for establishing a new security architecture. We need peace," he further said.