Russia has launched a “massive attack” on Ukraine’s two largest cities and cut power to 1.2 million buildings nationwide. Kyiv’s foreign minister has condemned Vladimir Putin’s “cynical” violence while peace talks with Moscow and Washington are ongoing. Follow the latest below.
Saturday 24 January 2026 16:20, UK
We’re pausing our live coverage for now, but if you’re just checking in, here is a recap of the key developments today.
US, Ukrainian and Russian representatives met face-to-face around the negotiating table for the second day in Abu Dhabi today.
They were branded were “productive” and “constructive” by Washington and Mr Zelenskyy respectively – but, as expected, no breakthrough occurred.
Fresh negotiations could take place “as early as next week”, Zelenskyy has said.
Talk of peace also didn’t stop Moscow from raining down hundreds of missiles and drones on Ukraine’s two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, early Saturday morning.
“This barbaric attack once again proves that Putin’s place is not at [Donald Trump’s] Board of Peace, but in the dock of the special tribunal,” said Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha.
Some 1.2 million buildings were left without power nationwide after the attack, while temperatures plummeted to -13C in the capital.
Military analyst Professor Michael Clarke said the strikes were timed to influence the talks by attempting to convince the White House that the Russian army was unstoppable and the US should instead put pressure on Ukraine to cede land.
One person was killed in the attack and 31 people were injured. Footage showed firefighters scrambling to tackle flames ignited by the strikes.
“Targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a clear breach of the rules of warfare,” UN human rights chief Volker Turk said.
By Sally Lockwood, news correspondent, in UAE
It’s hard to find good news when it comes to Ukraine today.
Overnight bombardments hit the country’s two largest cities just as negotiators gathered in the UAE for the first trilateral peace talks.
“The Ukrainians should walk out of Abu Dhabi,” an American source who has accompanied US delegations into Ukraine told me after the overnight strikes in Kharkiv and Kyiv.
“Putin is unserious about peace.”
But that hasn’t happened. If there is one small positive to point to, it’s that the talks have made it into a second day. There’s been no breakthrough – none was expected yet – but they haven’t broken down either.
Beyond that, the messaging after day one has been limited and carefully calibrated.
The White House described the talks as “productive,” while Zelenskyy said it was “too early to draw conclusions,” and said he remains in hourly contact with his negotiators.
The issue of land is clearly where things remain deadlocked.
Russia has doubled down on its demand for the entire eastern Donbas region, and Ukraine has made clear that is not happening.
While Ukraine now holds only around 10% of the Donbas, that territory is strategically critical. Handing it over would give Russia a significant military advantage should it attempt another invasion – and Kyiv is not about to surrender land it has fought and lost lives defending for nearly four years.
Could the talks be inching towards an agreement on a demilitarised economic zone in the east? This is something Zelenskyy described in December as a possible framework for ending the war – involving a freeze in fighting and a pullback of Ukrainian and Russian forces to agreed positions.
This does feel all too familiar. High-level talks that result in little change on the ground for Ukrainians trying to protect their families and keep warm this winter.
But something has brought all three delegations together at short notice for the first time.
As the second day of talks draws to a close, we may begin to understand what that is.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says “a lot was discussed” during the trilateral talks, which he said were “constructive”.
He added: “The central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war.
“I highly value the understanding of the need for American monitoring and oversight of the process of ending the war and ensuring genuine security.”
The Ukrainian leader also said that, providing there is readiness to move forward, further meetings could take place as soon as next week.
“Ukraine is working for peace and security. Thank you to everyone who is helping.”
As was the case yesterday, very little is emerging in terms of details of the talks that took place between the US, Russia and Ukraine today.
They focused on the “outstanding elements” of the US-proposed peace framework, A UAE government spokesperson said, referring to the plan drafted by US and Russia and then amended by the US and Europe.
The talks included “direct engagement” between officials from both countries and were held in a “constructive and positive atmosphere”.
This could suggest that Russian and Ukrainian envoys were in the same room rather than the US shuttling between them, but the statement is not definitive.
The Russian foreign ministry on Saturday said that Moscow remains open to a continuation of dialogue, the RIA state news agency reported.
Ukraine-Russia talks have ended today, sources tell Reuters.
Envoys from both nations were meeting with US mediators in Abu Dhabi.
Moscow is trying to push Trump to abandon the negotiation process with Ukraine and Europe, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
Repeated vague Kremlin references to “the formula” allegedly agreed between the US and Russia in Alaska are an attempt to fill the void of publicly available terms with conditions that benefit Russia.
This includes taking all of the Donbas from Ukraine as part of any peace deal.
“The Kremlin has been using the ambiguity around the summit to try to conceal the way Russia — not Ukraine — has been impeding the negotiations process by maintaining its original war demands,” the ISW says.
“Russia is likely attempting to convince Trump to walk away from US efforts to work with Ukraine and Europe by offering the ambiguous ‘Alaska formula’ as a way to end the war.”
Russia targeted energy facilities in its “massive” overnight attacks, says Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
They also damaged a maternity hospital, a dormitory housing displaced people, a medical college, and residential buildings.
He called for allies to meet their obligations to Ukraine.
“Every such Russian strike on our energy infrastructure proves that there must be no delays in supplying air defences.
“No blind eye can be turned to these strikes; they must be met with a strong response.
“We are counting on the reaction and assistance of all our partners.”
“Every missile for Patriot, NASAMS, and all other systems helps protect critical infrastructure and enables people to endure the winter cold.
“We must ensure full implementation of everything agreed with President Trump in Davos regarding air defence.”
Last night’s strikes were timed and designed to try and convince the White House that Moscow is unstoppable, says military analyst Professor Michael Clarke.
Russia is trying to frame victory in the Donbas as inevitable, claiming it is up to Ukraine whether they lose it now or lose it later at a larger cost to human life.
Ukraine is pushing back, arguing Russia cannot take its fortress cities that have proved such an obstacle to Moscow’s armed forces over the last four years.
“The Ukrainian public, for all of the suffering, for all of the freezing…. seem to be resolved that they are not going to make territorial concessions, so I don’t know where these talks are going to go,” Clarke says.
“We don’t need to be pessimistic yet,” he says, but there’s very little information to go on after the first day of negotiations.
“We don’t really know if they’re meeting in the same room.”
“My guess is that the Americans may be going from room to room to talk about things.”
Footage shows firefighters scrambling to tackle flames ignited by Russia’s attack on Ukraine’s largest two cities.
Moscow launched some 21 missiles and 375 drones at Kyiv and Kharkiv, according to Ukraine’s airforce.
At least 1.2 million buildings were left without power across the country.
Security and defence editor Deborah Haynes was in Kyiv overnight as explosions caused by Russian missiles and drones rang out across the city.
Civilians have been without electricity for days now, with thousands more added to their number last night.
“There’s a real sense of outrage and weariness that Russia is still attacking this country right in the middle of these peace talks,” says Haynes.
Watch her full report from the capital…
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