Russia-Ukraine War: Key Developments on Day 1,376 As the conflict drags into its 1,376th day, Monday brought a mix of grim battlefield updates, cautious optimism from peace negotiators, and fresh diplomatic ripples across the region. Russian strikes continued to pound Ukrainian territory overnight into Sunday, with the toll climbing in the Kyiv area. Officials now report one fatality and 18 injuries from an assault on Vyshhorod, where a nine-story apartment block and nearby homes were hit hard, sparking fires and forcing evacuations. Down south in Kherson, at least two civilians lost their lives and seven more were hurt in shelling, while Donetsk saw two deaths and five wounded from Saturday's attacks. On the flip side, a Ukrainian drone strike took out two people in Russia's Belgorod region, according to local reports. Moscow's security forces boasted of neutralizing 309 Ukrainian drones over Donbas in the past week using a new electronic warfare setup dubbed the "Donbas Dome." The day's brightest note came from high-stakes talks in Florida, where US and Ukrainian teams wrapped up what they called "productive" but still "complicated" discussions on winding down the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, flanked by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with Ukraine's new lead negotiator Rustem Umerov—fresh off the resignation of Zelenskyy's chief of staff amid a corruption probe. Rubio struck a hopeful tone, stressing the push for a sovereign Ukraine with real economic prospects, but admitted plenty of hurdles remain, especially with Russia in the mix. Umerov praised Washington's backing, saying the US is "walking beside us" and that they've aligned on key priorities like security guarantees and rebuilding. Witkoff heads to Moscow later this week to keep the momentum going. Elsewhere on the diplomatic front, Zelenskyy hopped on a call with European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, thanking her for focusing on bolstering Ukraine's grid against Russia's infrastructure hits. Germany's defense minister, Boris Pistorius, warned parliament that alliances are shifting fast in this "geopolitical chessboard," urging readiness for whatever comes next. Over in Tehran, Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan voiced Ankara's backing for peace efforts while chatting with his Iranian counterpart. In weapons news, Ukraine's defense minister Denys Shmyhal inked a deal with Norway's Tore O. Sandvik to team up on producing Ukrainian-designed drones, kicking off with a pilot line next year. It's a smart move to scale up tech that's proven its worth on the front lines, blending Kyiv's innovations with Oslo's manufacturing muscle. Tensions spilled over into regional security too. Vilnius airport in Lithuania hit pause on flights Sunday evening after spotting suspicious balloons in the airspace—part of a string of disruptions blamed on smuggling ops from Belarus, possibly laced with hybrid warfare vibes. Operations resumed after a few hours, but it's a reminder of how the war's shadows stretch far beyond the battlefield. Turkey, meanwhile, raised alarms over Ukrainian hits on two Russian oil tankers in its Black Sea economic zone last Friday, calling it a navigation hazard. A tough stretch for Ukraine, but these talks offer a sliver of hope amid the chaos. Fingers crossed Witkoff's Moscow trip yields something concrete.