Amid ongoing negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in the United Arab Emirates to resolve Russia’s long-standing invasion, Russian attacks on Ukraine resulted in one fatality and 31 injuries overnight into Saturday. The capital city of Kyiv saw one person killed and four injured in drone strikes, while in Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, drone attacks left 27 people wounded, as reported by local authorities.
Simultaneously, diplomatic talks continued in Abu Dhabi for a second day, marking a significant moment as representatives from the Trump administration engaged with both countries in efforts to facilitate progress towards ending the conflict. The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Ministry highlighted these discussions as part of broader initiatives to foster dialogue and seek political resolutions to the crisis. The initial day of talks was deemed productive by the White House.
Following the fresh wave of attacks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching a massive missile strike on Ukraine while peace negotiations were ongoing in Abu Dhabi. Sybiha condemned the timing of the assault, accusing Putin of disrupting the negotiation process with his aggressive actions.
Despite recent diplomatic efforts and statements indicating progress towards a potential peace agreement, critical unresolved issues, particularly concerning territorial disputes, continue to pose challenges to reaching a comprehensive resolution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking from Davos, Switzerland, expressed optimism about the near completion of a peace deal, yet acknowledged the persistence of sensitive issues that demand careful consideration.
Prior to the trilateral talks, discussions between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, took place during extended overnight deliberations. The Kremlin’s stance emphasizes the necessity for Kyiv to withdraw its troops from the eastern regions that Russia claims but has not fully occupied to pave the way for a lasting peace agreement.
