Russia attacked Ukraine on the night of January 24 with "over 375 drones and 21 missiles of various types , Ukrainian air defense forces managed to shoot down most of the incoming targets."
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated: "Last night, Russia launched a massive attack on our regions: over 370 attack drones and 21 missiles of various types. Kiev and its region, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv, were attacked."
The bombs are falling as negotiations are underway in Abu Dhabi , where the territorial issue remains the toughest obstacle.
A real tug-of-war is unfolding over Donbass: "The Ukrainian armed forces must leave the territory of Donbass," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated. This is a condition that Volodymyr Zelensky has already stated several times—and very clearly—he cannot accept .
Ukrainian and Russian delegates met directly in the United Arab Emirates for the first time since last summer, after three rounds held in Istanbul and mediated by Turkey. This is nevertheless "a step forward," Zelensky said.
And this time the novelty is given by the efforts made in recent days by American mediators, who are present in Abu Dhabi with a large delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, supported by Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Moscow reiterated that a long-term solution to the conflict is impossible without resolving the territorial issue based on the "Anchorage formula," the agreements Trump and Putin reportedly reached during their summit in Alaska last August .
"Until this goal is achieved, Russia will continue to consistently pursue the objectives of the special military operation precisely on the battlefield, where the Russian armed forces hold the strategic initiative."
Zelensky also confirmed the importance of the territorial issue. " The Donbass issue is crucial," the Ukrainian leader said, adding that he had discussed it with Trump. According to Zelensky, addressing the issue at the Abu Dhabi talks will help establish "how the three sides view it. In any case, it's a step forward, hopefully towards an end to the war, but different things can happen."
