Updated

Russia and Ukraine exchanged large-scale drone and missile strikes on each other's capitals overnight into October 22, hours after Moscow signalled readiness to resume US-mediated peace talks following discussions involving US envoy Steve Witkoff. President Donald Trump said negotiations were closer than ever to ending the war, though the Kremlin voiced doubts over Ukrainian and European proposals. In the Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad, less than 90km from the front line, residents described daily bombardment and exhaustion but said they refuse to yield despite the unrelenting attacks. The exchange of strikes underscores the gap between diplomatic signals of progress and continued fighting on the ground.