Kyiv has accused Moscow of "spitting in the face of diplomacy" after a barrage of 370 drones and 21 missiles pounded Ukrainian cities overnight, killing civilians even as high-level delegations met in Abu Dhabi for critical US-brokered peace talks.

The bombardment, described by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha as "another night of Russian terror," targeted residential infrastructure in Kyiv and Kharkiv, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The timing of the assault—coinciding exactly with the second day of fragile negotiations—signals a grim reality: the Kremlin is negotiating with missiles, not just diplomats.

"Striking the Negotiation Table"

"Cynically, Putin ordered a brutal massive missile strike against Ukraine right while delegations are meeting to advance the America-led peace process," Sybiha declared in a stinging statement. "His missiles hit not only our people, but also the negotiation table."

The talks in the UAE, attended by Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Russian representatives, are the first direct engagement on a new US peace framework. However, the strikes have cast a long shadow over the proceedings, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning that trust is being "pulverized" alongside Ukrainian homes.

• The Toll: Emergency services in Kyiv reported one dead and dozens injured, with 800,000 residents left without power in freezing -10°C temperatures.
• The Strategy: Analysts believe Moscow is attempting to leverage battlefield terror to force concessions on territorial disputes in the Donbas region.

A Global Warning

For the international community, the escalation is a stark reminder of the war's volatility. As diplomats in air-conditioned rooms in Abu Dhabi discuss ceasefires, Ukrainians are shivering in bomb shelters. The US delegation has condemned the strikes but urged for the talks to continue, arguing that the alternative is an endless war of attrition.

The coming days will define whether this "diplomacy under fire" can yield a breakthrough, or if the peace process will be buried under the rubble of Kyiv.