Ukraine Faces Deadly Russian Attacks Amid US-Russia Peace Talks in Abu Dhabi & Allied Diplomatic Push

Intense Russian Strikes Hit Ukraine Amid Parallel Peace Talks

A recent surge in hostilities saw deadly Russian attacks strike Ukraine, claiming at least seven lives and causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure. These assaults occurred concurrently with high-stakes international peace negotiations, including a U.S.-Russia meeting in Abu Dhabi and broader diplomatic discussions among Ukraine's allies.

Intensified Conflict: Strikes and Casualties

On Tuesday, Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones across Ukraine, hitting cities like Kyiv. The capital bore the brunt of these assaults, where seven people died and approximately 20 sustained injuries in the Dniprovskyi and Sviatoshynyi districts. Residential buildings, energy grids, and heating systems were severely impacted, plunging parts of Kyiv into darkness and cold. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the devastation, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia fired 22 missiles and over 460 drones overnight. This marked the 13th instance since 2022 that NATO-member Romania reported a breach of its airspace due to Russian drones, with Romanian and German fighter jets scrambling in response.

Meanwhile, Ukraine launched its own retaliatory drone attack on southern Russia's Rostov region. The city of Taganrog, near the Ukrainian border, suffered three fatalities and eight injuries. Governor Yuri Slyusar detailed damage to private homes, multi-storey residential blocks, and a warehouse. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed it intercepted 249 Ukrainian drones, including 116 over the Black Sea.

Parallel Peace Efforts Face Complexities

Amidst the escalating violence, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the nearly four-year-old conflict are underway. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a key negotiator, held several hours of talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi. U.S. Army Lt.-Col. Jeff Tolbert expressed optimism, stating discussions aimed at achieving "lasting peace" were progressing well and synchronized with the White House. However, the specifics of these discussions and the composition of the Russian delegation remain undisclosed.

Separately, Ukrainian and U.S. representatives met in Geneva to discuss a U.S.-Russia brokered peace plan. Ukrainian delegate Oleksandr Bevz described these talks as "very constructive," covering most points.

A Contentious Peace Plan

A 28-point U.S.-brokered peace plan, unveiled last week, has sparked considerable debate. While French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged it "goes in the right direction," he emphasized the critical need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future hostilities and cautioned against a "capitulation" scenario. Macron also insisted that Ukraine's armed forces should not be restricted in size. This plan, which initially surprised many in the U.S. Congress, Kyiv, and Europe, prompted concerns that the Trump administration might favor a deal heavily tilted towards Moscow, particularly given its consistent stance that Europe must contribute more to collective defense and the lack of new U.S. military or humanitarian aid.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated Moscow had not yet received an updated version of the plan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while initially welcoming a version deemed too favorable to Moscow by Kyiv and allies, awaited an "interim" amended version. He warned that if the revised plan didn't align with discussions between Putin and Trump in Alaska, Russia would reassess its position. Earlier iterations reportedly included clauses like permanently ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine, capping its army at 600,000, and ceding parts of Donbas as a demilitarized zone, alongside mandated elections—all points reportedly since amended or set aside.

Skepticism on the Ground

The harsh reality on the ground highlights deep skepticism. Liubov Petrivna, a 90-year-old Kyiv resident whose apartment was shattered, voiced profound doubt about any peace plan: "No one will ever do anything about it. Putin won't stop until he finishes us off." This sentiment underscores the immense challenge facing negotiators striving for a durable resolution to the devastating conflict.