Negotiations in Abu Dhabi on the second day also on territorial issues
According to media information, the negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine also began on the second day with discussions on the sensitive issue of territorial cessions. According to the state news agency Tass, Russian delegation circles said that several documents were being studied and discussed. “Both territories and (security) guarantees and other aspects,” the agency quoted its informant as saying.
The issue of territorial cessions is one of the most sensitive in peace talks. In addition to the already occupied areas in the east of Ukraine, Russia is demanding additional areas of land, specifically the remains of the Donetsk region, which have not yet been conquered after almost four years. Ukraine, in turn, rejects a unilateral withdrawal from the region. (dpa)
Ukraine sharply criticizes Russia for attacks
Kyiv has responded to the massive Russian attacks on Ukraine amid the Negotiations to end the war in Abu Dhabi sharply criticized. “Peace efforts? Trilateral meeting in the United Arab Emirates? Diplomacy? For the Ukrainians it was another night of Russian terror,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on Saturday on the online service X. He held Russian President Vladimir Putin personally responsible for it.
“Cynically, Putin ordered a brutal massive missile strike against Ukraine while delegations are meeting in Abu Dhabi to advance the US-led peace process,” criticized Sybiha. “His missiles not only hit our people, but also the negotiating table.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj said on In addition to the capital Kyiv and its surrounding area, where energy infrastructure in particular was attacked, the regions of Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv were also affected. There was one death and dozens of injuries, including a child.
Zelensky called for a “strong response” to these attacks from all of Ukraine’s partners. This included deliveries to the Ukrainian air defense. (afp)
Despite negotiations, Russia is again attacking on a massive scale
Renewed violent Russian attacks on several Ukrainian regions on Saturday night have overshadowed the first direct negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the USA to end the war. According to the latest authorities, at least one person was killed and 27 others injured in the capital region of Kyiv and the second largest Ukrainian city of Kharkiv alone. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the attacks “also hit the negotiating table.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj wrote in the online service X about “370 attack drones and 21 missiles of different types” that Russia had fired at his country. In Kyiv and the surrounding area, energy infrastructure in particular was attacked. The regions of Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv are also affected. Zelensky wrote of one death and “dozens of injuries,” including a child.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said early on Saturday morning that the city was under “massive” attack and called on the population to stay in shelters. According to him, several buildings were hit, but no residential buildings.
Klitschko later wrote of one death and four injuries. Fire broke out in several buildings hit by drone debris, and heat and water supplies were interrupted in parts of the capital. According to local authorities, four more people were injured in the Kyiv area.
The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, informed on the online service Telegram about an attack with Iranian-made Shahed drones that damaged several residential buildings in two districts near the Russian border. According to police, 15 people were injured and two medical facilities were damaged. (afp)
Poland wants to sign a contract on a drone defense system
Poland’s Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has announced the imminent signing of a contract to install “the most important drone defense system in Europe.” The agreement between Warsaw and an international consortium will be signed by the end of the month, the minister was told by the newspaper on Saturday Gazeta Wyborcza quoted. The underlying negotiations have already been completed. Kosiniak-Kamysz did not mention the financial scope of the armaments project.
According to him, the new drone defense for Poland consists of “various armament systems”, which would be delivered primarily by domestic companies, but in cooperation with foreign companies. The defense minister said he had already signed a contract with the US group Anduril last year. The Norwegian technology group Kongsberg is also one of the companies “we are talking to”.
The EU and NATO country Poland borders Ukraine as well as Russia and Belarus and is one of Kiev’s staunchest supporters in fending off Russia’s war of aggression. Poland is watching the massive Russian drone attacks on its neighboring country with suspicion, and Russian flying objects have penetrated Polish airspace several times.
The Polish government recently offered Kiev to supply its Soviet-built Mig-29 fighter planes to the Ukrainian army. At the same time, she expressed interest in Ukrainian drone technology, which is very well developed as a result of the Russian war of aggression that has been going on for almost four years. (dpa)
Former Chancellor Schröder against the “demonization” of Russia
The former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder calls the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine contrary to international law, but warns against a “demonization” of Russia. “Of course, the war in Ukraine should not be respected, nor should it be put into perspective. It is contrary to international law and a violation of human rights,” writes the 81-year-old former chancellor in a guest article for Berliner Zeitung. All diplomatic means would have to be used to stop the war. (dpa)
Russia reports the capture of a village in the Kharkiv region
Russia says it has captured the village of Starytsya in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said the troops also attacked Ukrainian drone positions and energy facilities during the night. The information cannot be independently verified. (rtr)