At least one person died and 15 were injured in Russian attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv, while a two-day summit in Abu Dhabi focused on political solutions to the conflict. The strikes on residential areas demonstrated the urgent need for diplomatic progress as violence continued.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko issued urgent warnings via social media that Kyiv was experiencing a “massive enemy attack,” urging residents to seek shelter. The strikes hit residential buildings, resulting in casualties and significant property damage. Heat and water infrastructure was knocked offline in several neighborhoods, affecting thousands of civilians.
In Kharkiv, Iranian-made Shahed drones attacked multiple residential complexes, as confirmed by Mayor Igor Terekhov. The drone strikes caused extensive damage to civilian housing, continuing Russia’s pattern of targeting non-military areas. The city has faced persistent bombardment throughout the conflict.
Despite the violence, high-level talks proceeded in Abu Dhabi where American, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives gathered for two days. The UAE foreign ministry described the negotiations as focused on “promoting dialogue and identifying political solutions to the crisis.” The discussions represented the most significant diplomatic engagement in months, though deep divisions persist over territorial issues.
President Zelensky, following his meeting with President Trump, suggested that peace proposals were “nearly ready.” He proposed creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control, framing it as economically beneficial. President Putin engaged separately with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as multiple diplomatic channels remained active.
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