Overnight on Saturday, Russian strikes on Ukraine resulted in at least one fatality and left 23 others wounded. Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States were set to meet in Abu Dhabi for the second day of discussions aimed at resolving nearly four years of Russian aggression.
According to Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s Military Administration, one person died and four sustained injuries in a drone strike targeting the Ukrainian capital.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that 19 individuals were hurt in another drone attack.
The strikes took place as representatives were gathered in the UAE for further dialogue on the situation.
This set of talks marks the first known interactions between Trump administration officials and both nations, part of a broader U.S. initiative to make headway in ending Russia’s aggressive actions over these years.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the discussions aim to “facilitate dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.” The White House characterized Friday’s initial talks as productive.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have intensified from various quarters, from Switzerland to the Kremlin, despite significant hurdles still existing between both parties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned on Thursday in Davos that a potential peace agreement is “almost ready,” although some sensitive topics still need addressing, especially regarding territorial disputes.
Before the tripartite discussions began, Russian President Vladimir Putin conferred with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about reconciling with Ukraine during a late-night meeting. The Kremlin maintains that, for a peace agreement to materialize, Kyiv must pull back its forces from regions in the east that Russia has unlawfully annexed yet has not completely occupied.
