Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for an energy ceasefire after Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Kyiv and Kharkiv, using 396 drones and missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force. The attack came as US, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators held a second day of tripartite peace talks in the United Arab Emirates.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the assault, calling it 'another night of Russian terror' and stating that Putin's missiles hit 'not only our people, but also the negotiation table'. Despite the strikes, talks in Abu Dhabi resumed and both sides expressed openness to further dialogue, with Zelensky describing the discussions as constructive.
The attacks caused widespread outages of heat, water and power. In Kyiv, 6,000 apartment blocks were without heat on Saturday morning, and at least 1.2 million consumers were without power across the country. One person was killed and at least 15 injured in the capital, while in Kharkiv, 25 drones hit several districts, injuring at least 14 people and damaging a dormitory, a hospital and a maternity hospital.
Zelensky said agreements on air defence made with US President Donald Trump in Davos must be 'fully implemented'. The strikes underscore doubts about Russia's commitment to peace, as Moscow continues to insist on control of the Donbas region.
