Ukraine has vehemently denounced a new series of Russian assaults that occurred overnight, resulting in one fatality and injuring 23 individuals, all while crucial peace negotiations with the United States are poised to continue.
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, described the attacks as "brutal," emphasizing that they not only harmed innocent civilians but also jeopardized the ongoing discussions aimed at achieving peace.
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and the US have gathered in Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral negotiations since Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Despite reports from an insider to the BBC indicating some advancements in talks, significant disagreements remain, particularly regarding territorial disputes.
In Kyiv, the mayor reported that a single casualty occurred and four others sustained injuries. Meanwhile, the mayor of Kharkiv indicated that 19 people were hurt during a relentless bombardment of the city early Saturday morning.
As the second day of discussions unfolds in Abu Dhabi, Sybiha remarked that the recent "barbaric" assault underscores that President Putin belongs not at a peace conference, but facing justice at a tribunal for his actions. This assertion comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s comments last week that Putin had accepted an invitation to join his 'Board of Peace,' an initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts—an invitation that remains unconfirmed by the Kremlin.
Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, shared on Telegram that three out of the four injured individuals required hospitalization and highlighted that the attacks had inflicted damage on critical infrastructure. As a result, approximately 6,000 buildings are now without heating amid sub-zero winter temperatures. Following these assaults, President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out that the primary target of the Russian strikes was the country's energy infrastructure.
In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov revealed that the attacks early Saturday resulted in 19 injuries, with notable damages to a maternity hospital and a shelter for displaced persons.
Currently, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including portions of the eastern Donbas region, with the Kremlin demanding significant territorial concessions from Ukraine—a request that Ukraine has firmly rejected.
After the initial day of talks, Rustem Umerov, who is leading the Ukrainian delegation, took to social media to convey that discussions centered around the frameworks needed to conclude Russia's aggressive actions and outlined further steps in the negotiation process, all aimed at achieving a dignified and lasting peace.
