The Kremlin said on Thursday it was still interested in pursuing peace talks over Ukraine, despite a large overnight Russian strike on Kyiv that Ukrainian officials said killed at least 15 people, including four children.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as Moscow's response to diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Asked about the apparent contradiction between Russia’s stated interest in negotiations and the attacks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said both sides were continuing military strikes, but Russia remained committed to diplomacy.

"Strikes on Russian infrastructure, often on Russian civilian infrastructure, by the Kyiv regime are also continuing," Peskov said.

"The Russian armed forces are carrying out their tasks, targeting military and military-related infrastructure. The strikes are successful, the targets are being destroyed, and the special military operation continues," he said.

"At the same time, Russia remains interested in continuing the negotiation process to achieve our goals through political and diplomatic means."

Peskov reiterated that Russia does not deliberately target civilians, while he said that Ukraine also continues to strike Russian infrastructure, including civilian facilities.

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