Russian assaults in Ukraine resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to 31 people overnight leading into Saturday, shortly before negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States convened in the United Arab Emirates for a second day of discussions aimed at terminating Russia’s prolonged full-scale invasion. According to Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, one person was killed and four were injured in Russian drone strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, drone attacks left 27 individuals wounded, as reported by Kharkiv regional head Oleh Syniehubov on Saturday.
The assaults coincided with the anticipated meeting of envoys in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, for the second day of talks on Saturday. These discussions mark the first known occasion where officials from the Trump administration have engaged with both countries, as part of Washington’s efforts to facilitate progress in ending Moscow’s invasion.
The UAE’s Foreign Ministry stated that the talks are part of initiatives to foster dialogue and identify political resolutions to the crisis. The White House characterized the initial day of discussions on Friday as fruitful. Following the recent attacks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for the aggressive actions.
In a statement, Sybiha condemned Putin for ordering a severe missile assault against Ukraine while delegations were engaged in talks in Abu Dhabi to advance the American-led peace process. He emphasized that the missiles not only targeted Ukrainian civilians but also disrupted the negotiation process.
Recent days have seen a flurry of diplomatic engagements, from Switzerland to the Kremlin, despite persistent challenges between the parties. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday that a potential peace agreement was nearing completion, critical unresolved issues, particularly those related to territorial disputes, continue to pose obstacles.
Just prior to the trilateral talks, Putin engaged in discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during extended overnight negotiations regarding a Ukraine settlement. The Kremlin stipulates that for a peace accord to be reached, Kyiv must withdraw its troops from the eastern regions that Russia had illegally annexed but not entirely captured.