Russia-Ukraine war: Key things to know about the conflict

Russian missiles and artillery have slammed into high-rise apartment towers in Kyiv, leaving buildings ablaze and smoke hanging over Ukraine's capital and its suburbs

As Russia’s offensive pressed closer to Ukraine's seat of government, missiles and artillery slammed into high-rise apartment towers in Kyiv on Wednesday, setting buildings ablaze and sending smoke over the capital and its suburbs.

Russian forces escalated their bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv and the besieged port of Mariupol, intensifying the war's humanitarian toll and leaving cities smoldering.

But diplomatic activity is quickening, as well.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed to meet again on Wednesday after a fourth round of talks that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as “more realistic” than previous meetings. He urged patience as officials prepared to return to the negotiating table.