Russia bombs Kyiv amid talks with Ukraine, US in Abu Dhabi; several killed, millions left without power

Kyiv: Russia launched an overnight airstrike on Kyiv that killed at least one and wounded four others in the capital city of Ukraine. This came hours before the conclusion of the two-day trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and mediator United States concluded on Saturday, with no immediate clarity on which direction the negotiations have taken.

What happened in Kyiv?

According to Ukrainian media reports, just before the peace talks in Abu Dhabi, Russia launched several intense airstrikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv, two of Ukraine's largest cities, early Saturday morning. Initial reports indicate that one person was killed and at least 23 others were seriously injured in these attacks. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 375 drones and 21 missiles were fired in these attacks. Russia once again targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure in an attempt to cripple the country. The attack caused a large part of the capital Kyiv to lose power.

The strike reportedly hit the power grid, that left nearly 1.2 million properties without electricity. Media reports claimed that around 6,000 buildings in Kyiv were left without heating on Saturday morning even as temperatures hovered around -10 degrees Celsius.

According to media reports, further rounds of trilateral talks to end the lasting tensions between Russia and Ukraine would continue in Abu Dhabi next week.

What did Ukraine say about Russia?

The war between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate. Ahead of peace talks scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi, mediated by US President Donald Trump, Ukraine has accused Russia of launching intensified attacks. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, on Saturday, lashed out at Putin, saying that Russia had launched a fierce missile attack on Ukraine at a time when delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the US were present in Abu Dhabi for talks.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed his anger on the social media site X, stating, "This barbaric attack proves that Putin belongs not at a negotiating table, but in the dock of a special court."

What are Zelenskyy’s demands?

It is worth noting that Zelenskyy has repeatedly demanded that Putin be treated similarly to how the US treated then-Venezuelan President Maduro, who was removed from his home. Immediately after the US action against Maduro, Zelenskyy said that if dictators are treated this way, then the US knows what to do with Putin. Recently, he reiterated that Maduro is facing justice in a New York court, but Putin is still free. Peace talks to be held in Abu Dhabi

Earlier, regarding the peace talks to be held in Abu Dhabi, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that it would be premature to expect any conclusions on the very first day. He said that first and foremost, Russia would have to demonstrate that it is ready to end the war.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also commented on these talks between Ukraine and Russia, which are being mediated by the US. He said on Friday that Russia has not backed down from its demands to end the war. He stated that they have not abandoned their demand to cede the Donbas region. It is worth noting that Donbas is a very important region for Ukraine. It includes the industrially strong Donetsk and Luhansk regions.