Ukrainian cities faced a deadly night of bombardment even as diplomatic efforts showed a flicker of movement, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggesting high-level talks involving the US and Russia could restart shortly.

Overnight, Russian missile attacks targeted the capital, Kyiv, and Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials reported at least one person was killed in the strikes, which damaged residential and commercial buildings. Air defense systems were activated in several regions.

The attacks came against the backdrop of recently concluded exploratory discussions in Abu Dhabi. While not formal negotiations, the talks involved Ukrainian, American, and Russian officials. President Zelenskyy described the dialogue as "constructive" and stated that more substantive talks could resume "as early as next week."

Any potential negotiation faces immense hurdles, primarily Russia’s continued insistence on territorial claims—including the recognition of its annexation of Crimea and four other Ukrainian regions—which Kyiv has flatly rejected as a non-starter.

The simultaneous violence and diplomacy underscore the grim reality of the war: even as channels of communication tentatively open, the conflict on the ground intensifies. The overnight strikes on major population centers appear to reinforce Moscow’s strategy of maintaining military pressure alongside any diplomatic overtures.

The international community watches closely to see if the talks mentioned by President Zelenskyy will materialize next week, and whether they can progress beyond preliminary discussions to address the core issues of the war.