Russian forces killed one person and wounded 15 others in attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv, while uncertainty remained over territorial arrangements despite ongoing peace negotiations. The strikes on residential areas highlighted the fundamental disputes that persist even as diplomatic channels remain active.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko alerted residents that the capital faced a “massive enemy attack,” instructing people to remain in protective shelters. The bombardment targeted residential buildings, causing casualties and extensive damage. Heat and water services were disrupted in multiple districts, affecting thousands of residents.
In Kharkiv, Iranian-made Shahed drones attacked several residential complexes, as confirmed by Mayor Igor Terekhov. The drone strikes caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, continuing Russia’s pattern of targeting non-military areas. The northeastern city has endured relentless bombardment throughout the nearly four-year conflict.
In Abu Dhabi, negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States engaged in talks, but significant uncertainty remained over territorial arrangements. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Donbas, while President Zelensky acknowledged ongoing uncertainties about the future control of Ukrainian land that Russia seeks.
Ukrainian President Zelensky suggested that peace proposals were “nearly ready” following his meeting with President Trump. He proposed creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control as an economic alternative. President Putin engaged separately with Trump’s envoys, as all parties pursued diplomatic solutions despite fundamental disagreements.
