Ukraine Condemns Russian Strikes During Peace Talks in Abu Dhabi

Post by : Saif Nasser

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s largest cities while peace talks were taking place in Abu Dhabi. Sybiha called the attacks “cynical” and “barbaric,” saying they show Putin should not be trusted at the peace table.

The strikes hit Kyiv and Kharkiv on Saturday, injuring at least 23 people and killing one. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia used 375 drones and 21 missiles. The attacks mainly targeted energy infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without electricity and heat in freezing temperatures. In Kyiv, around 800,000 residents were affected. Emergency teams are working to restore services.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had earlier said it was too soon to judge the Abu Dhabi talks. He stressed that Russia must show a real commitment to peace. The talks, facilitated by the United States, bring together Ukraine, Russia, and U.S. officials to seek a solution to the four-year war.

A major obstacle remains Russia’s demand that Ukraine surrender its eastern Donbas region, including Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine still controls about 20% of Donetsk, and Zelenskiy has firmly rejected giving up territory that Russia has not captured. Polls show Ukrainians strongly oppose such concessions.

Before Saturday’s strikes, Kyiv had already endured two large attacks since the start of the year. These strikes caused widespread outages in electricity and heating, affecting hundreds of residential buildings during harsh winter conditions.

While Russia claims to pursue a diplomatic solution, it continues to rely on military force when negotiations stall. Ukraine warns that attacks during talks undermine trust and reduce the chances of achieving peace.

The missile attacks highlight the difficulties in ending the conflict. As talks continue, the world watches closely, hoping for a solution that protects Ukraine’s land and the safety of its people.