Russian forces attacked Kyiv and Kharkiv, killing one person and injuring 15 others in strikes that damaged residential areas and critical infrastructure. The violence continued even as representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States engaged in peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the complex challenge of achieving a ceasefire.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko issued emergency warnings about a “massive enemy attack” on the capital, directing residents to remain in shelters. The strikes hit residential buildings directly, causing casualties and widespread damage. Heating and water infrastructure sustained significant damage, leaving parts of the city without essential services during winter.
Kharkiv experienced attacks from Iranian-manufactured Shahed drones, according to Mayor Igor Terekhov, with multiple residential complexes damaged in the assault. The use of Iranian drones against civilian targets has become a defining characteristic of Russian military operations. The northeastern city has endured relentless bombardment throughout the war.
In Abu Dhabi, negotiators gathered for two-day talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict. The UAE foreign ministry stated the discussions represented “ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.” The Donbas region emerged as the central obstacle, with Russia demanding complete Ukrainian military withdrawal from the eastern territories as a precondition for peace.
Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed optimism following his meeting with President Trump, suggesting that peace proposals were “nearly ready” despite ongoing territorial disputes. He proposed creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Ukrainian governance, which he discussed with the American leader. President Putin held separate discussions with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while all parties committed to continuing weekend negotiations in pursuit of a diplomatic settlement.