Russia carried out a new round of deadly aerial assaults on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, local officials reported, just hours after Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington held their first known trilateral meeting since the war began, agreeing to continue discussions over the weekend.
According to Ukraine’s air force, missile and drone strikes targeted the capital, prompting the activation of air defenses.
CNN journalists in Kyiv reported hearing explosions during the night.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least one person was killed and four others were injured in the attacks.
He added that falling debris sparked fires and damaged buildings, with some areas of the city losing access to heat and water.
Northeastern Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was also struck. City Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a maternity hospital and a dormitory for displaced residents were damaged, leaving at least 11 people wounded.
The attacks followed the first day of talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, between delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
Russia sent a military delegation including a top spy and military intelligence chief. Ukraine’s team comprised senior negotiators, diplomats, and security officials.
The United States was represented by President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum.
Observers suggest the discussions likely centered on territory, particularly the mineral-rich eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, known for its fertile farmland and strategic rivers.
Russia has long demanded Kyiv cede the parts of Donbas it still controls, a demand Ukraine has consistently rejected.
The Trump administration has pressed Ukraine to accept a peace deal, despite widespread fears that it could favor Moscow.
Nearly four years into the full-scale invasion, Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, including almost all of Luhansk, and parts of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
After the day’s negotiations concluded, Ukraine’s top negotiator Rustem Umerov took to X to describe the talks as focused on achieving a “dignified and lasting peace,” and thanked the U.S. for mediating. “Additional meetings are scheduled for tomorrow,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking in his daily address, remained cautious: “We will see how the talks go tomorrow and what the results will be.”
He emphasized that the priority is for Russia to be ready to end the war, stating: “Ukraine’s position is clear. I have defined the framework for dialogue for our delegation.”
