Ukraine and Russia Hold Rare Direct Talks as War Grinds On and Winter Bites

Ukraine and Russia Hold Rare Direct Talks as War Grinds On and Winter Bites Representatives from Ukraine and Russia have held direct negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, a rare diplomatic encounter as fighting continues to claim lives and cripple civilian infrastructure. The talks, which were mediated by the United States, took place in Abu Dhabi [57959][57815]. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the meetings involved senior officials from his armed forces and military intelligence [57959]. The discussions come as Ukraine awaits a formal response from Moscow to a new draft peace plan negotiated with U.S. involvement [34009]. The diplomatic efforts unfold against a backdrop of relentless violence. On the same day as the Abu Dhabi talks, Russian attacks struck Ukraine’s two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, killing at least one person and injuring 15 others [57815]. Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Russian forces claimed the capture of the village of Starytsia in the northeastern Kharkiv region, continuing a slow, grinding offensive [57986]. As the war enters another winter, millions of Ukrainians face a dire humanitarian crisis caused by targeted attacks on energy systems. In the capital, nearly 1,700 high-rise apartment buildings remain without central heating following months of Russian strikes on power plants and heating facilities [58341]. The situation is exacerbated by the Soviet-era design of centralized heating grids, where a strike on a single plant can leave entire districts without heat or hot water [58213]. Amid the hardship, Western allies are bolstering Ukraine’s military and energy resilience. France has delivered new long-range drones, known as the Rodeur 330, capable of striking targets up to 500 kilometers behind enemy lines [58361]. To counter the energy siege, Ukraine has secured a deal to import liquefied natural gas from the United States, which will be shipped via Greece to provide a stable alternative supply [6801]. The human cost of the invasion continues to mount. A Ukrainian teenager recently shared her account of escaping after being forcibly taken to Russia, supporting allegations of a mass deportation program for which President Vladimir Putin faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant [58349]. In Kharkiv, teenage twins have returned to school, held in an underground station, determined to study after half their friends were killed in a shelling attack [57998]. France Sends Ukraine Drones Capable of Striking Deep Inside Russia Secret Ukraine-Russia War Talks Held in UAE Zelensky Awaits Moscow's Reply as Ukraine Prepares for Wartime Christmas Russia and Ukraine Meet for Talks Amid Deadly Kyiv Attack Russia Claims Capture of Starytsia Village in Kharkiv Push Kyiv's Winter Crisis: 1,700 Towers Still Lack Heat After Attacks Cold War Heating Grid Leaves Ukrainian Cities Exposed Ukraine to Import US Natural Gas via Greece to Counter Russian Attacks Teen's Escape from Russia Exposes Mass Abduction of Ukrainian Children Twins Return to School Where Friends Were Killed