Russia said there had been “progress” in talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi as Kyiv accused Moscow of launching a “massive” overnight drone attack on railway infrastructure in the country’s north, underscoring the gulf between diplomatic messaging and battlefield realities nearly four years into the war.
Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian negotiator, told state media that discussions in the United Arab Emirates were advancing. “There is definitely progress, things are moving forward in a good, positive direction,” he said on the second day of meetings involving Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. representatives.
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Dmitriev criticized what he described as attempts by European nations to derail the process. “The warmongers from Europe, from Britain, are constantly trying to interfere with this process, constantly trying to meddle in it. And the more such attempts there are, the more we see that progress is definitely being made,” he said, without offering specifics.
He added that “active work” was under way on restoring relations with the United States, including within the framework of a U.S.-Russia working group on the economy. He did not detail the agenda or provide a timeline for future meetings.
The talks in the UAE are aimed at finding a path to end the war sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While Moscow signaled optimism, events on the ground highlighted persistent hostilities.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Russian forces carried out a “massive” drone strike targeting railway infrastructure in the northern Sumy region. He said the railway’s energy infrastructure was also hit, posting photos of damaged rail cars on the Telegram messaging app.
“The enemy is trying to stop train traffic,” Kuleba said, calling the strike “another act of terrorism” against Ukrainian logistics. The immediate extent of the disruption was not detailed.
The simultaneous push for talks and intensified attacks reflects a familiar pattern in the conflict, in which military pressure and diplomatic overtures often unfold in tandem. Neither side has publicly outlined concessions under consideration in Abu Dhabi, and there was no immediate independent confirmation of progress beyond the Russian account.
Europe’s role hovered over the discussions after Dmitriev’s remarks, though he did not name specific governments or actions. European capitals and Britain have been key backers of Ukraine since the invasion, providing military and economic support; any long-term settlement would likely involve their interests and security concerns, alongside those of the United States.
As the meetings continued, the contrast between Russia’s upbeat tone on negotiations and Ukraine’s reports of targeted strikes on critical infrastructure underscored the stakes. Railway lines and their power systems are vital to Ukraine’s wartime logistics, moving troops, equipment and humanitarian supplies across the country.
With diplomacy in Abu Dhabi at an early stage and claims of progress coming from one side, the path to de-escalation remains uncertain. For now, Ukraine’s damaged rail hubs and Russia’s guarded optimism offer parallel snapshots of a war that continues to test the limits of both endurance and negotiation.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
