At least one person was killed and 15 injured in Russian attacks that compounded a cold weather crisis in Kyiv and Kharkiv, while parallel discussions continued across multiple diplomatic venues. The strikes disrupted heating during winter as peace efforts proceeded through various channels.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko alerted Kyiv residents that the capital faced a “massive enemy attack,” as cold weather compounded the crisis created by infrastructure damage. The bombardment knocked out heating systems, leaving residents without warmth during freezing conditions. The cold weather crisis deepened as utility disruptions continued.
In Kharkiv, Iranian-made Shahed drones attacked residential complexes, severely compounding the cold weather crisis, as confirmed by Mayor Igor Terekhov. The drone strikes damaged heating infrastructure during winter, creating dangerous conditions. The northeastern city faced a compounded crisis of military attacks and freezing temperatures.
Despite the cold weather crisis, parallel discussions continued on multiple fronts. In Abu Dhabi, trilateral talks brought together American, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives. Separately, President Zelensky met with President Trump, while President Putin held discussions with Trump’s envoys. The UAE foreign ministry described the main talks as efforts “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions.”
Ukrainian President Zelensky announced that peace proposals were “nearly ready” as parallel discussions proceeded. He proposed creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control. The parallel diplomatic channels operated simultaneously in hopes of achieving breakthrough despite the winter crisis.