Ukraine Says Russian Strikes Undercut Abu Dhabi Peace Talks

“Peace efforts? Trilateral meeting in the UAE? Diplomacy?” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media. “For Ukrainians, this was another night of Russian terror.” He said the attacks were deliberately timed to coincide with the negotiations, adding that Russian missiles struck “not only our people, but also the negotiation table.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched more than 370 attack drones and 21 missiles of various types overnight, describing the assault as one of the largest in recent weeks.

The Abu Dhabi talks mark the first known direct contact between Ukrainian and Russian officials under a US-backed proposal to end the conflict. Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, said discussions focused on “the parameters for ending Russia’s war and the further logic of the negotiation process.”

The initial American draft plan drew sharp criticism in Kyiv and several European capitals for appearing too favourable to Moscow. Subsequent revisions, however, prompted objections from Russia, particularly over proposals that could involve European peacekeepers.

Territorial control remains the central stumbling block. Both sides acknowledge that the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region is one of the most contentious issues in negotiations to halt a war that has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and left large parts of Ukraine in ruins.

Ukrainian officials say the latest strikes cast serious doubt on Russia’s commitment to diplomacy, even as talks continue under international pressure to find a way forward.