Ukraine Engages in Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict and Casualties

Kyiv's lead negotiator characterized the commencement of two days of U.S.-led peace talks in Abu Dhabi as productive. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, stated on X that the discussions were focused on concrete steps and practical solutions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized in his nightly video address the importance of these talks yielding real peace, cautioning against allowing Russia further opportunities to prolong the war. He urged Ukraine's allies to increase pressure on Moscow. Zelenskyy expressed hope that the negotiations would soon facilitate a new prisoner exchange. In an interview with French television channel France 2, he reported that the battlefield deaths of Ukrainian soldiers are estimated at 55,000, a stark increase from the previous estimate of over 46,000 reported in a February NBC interview. The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, asserted that the door for a peaceful resolution remains open; however, he reiterated that Russian forces would continue hostilities until Kyiv makes decisions that could effectively end the war. This statement underlined Moscow's uncompromising stance as talks continued. Russia has also declared its intolerance for European troops on Ukrainian territory, a condition that Kyiv sees as essential for credible security guarantees. In a show of solidarity, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders praised their robust bilateral relations. In response to French President Emmanuel Macron's intentions to resume dialogue with Putin regarding the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin acknowledged ongoing technical discussions with France but did not provide further details or indicate any prospective dialogue between Putin and Macron. Reports from Paris confirmed that Emmanuel Bonne, Macron's senior diplomat, met with Russian officials in the Kremlin on Tuesday. On the ground, the situation in Ukraine remains dire. Russian forces launched a cluster munitions attack on a busy market in the eastern town of Druzhkivka, resulting in seven fatalities and 15 injuries, which casts a dark shadow over the prospects of progress during the UAE talks. Donetsk regional military administration chief Vadym Filashkin dismissed Russian claims of seeking a ceasefire as worthless. Additionally, Russia carried out 105 drone strikes against Ukraine overnight, with Ukrainian air defenses intercepting 88 of them. Incidents involving 17 drone strikes were recorded across 14 locations, with debris falling at five sites. The southern city of Odesa was also targeted in a major attack. Regional military administration head Oleh Kiper reported on Telegram that strike drones impaired both residential and industrial infrastructure, damaging around 20 residential buildings. Rescue operations saved four people from rubble, although one individual sustained injuries. Meanwhile, senior EU diplomats meeting on Wednesday approved a long-awaited €90 billion loan for Ukraine, as reported by Jennifer Rankin from Brussels. This financial aid is viewed as a vital lifeline for the country, which continues to face relentless Russian assaults that have severely harmed its energy and heating systems, all during a harsh winter season. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2