Russian forces have launched a missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, injuring civilians and damaging a residential building, according to the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko. The attack comes just days before US-led Ukrainian-Russian talks are set to open in Abu Dhabi, seeking a resolution to the ongoing war that has lasted for more than four years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned in his nightly video address that Russia was preparing new attacks on energy targets, bridges, and other infrastructure. The missile strikes on Kyiv appear to be part of this anticipated offensive.

The upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi mark a significant diplomatic effort to end the conflict, with the last such meeting taking place in February. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the possibility of an imminent deal between Russia and Ukraine, following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, at the White House.

Coinciding with the Trump-Dmitriev meeting, First Lady Melania Trump hosted a diplomatic gathering with Russian and Ukrainian representatives to build on a localized truce she helped broker in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky in October. However, the truce expired last Sunday, just a day before a deadly Russian bombing of an aid distribution point in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhia region, which has now claimed the lives of at least 50 civilians.

The latest missile attack on Kyiv and the rising death toll from the Zaporizhia strike underscore the urgent need for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict. As the US-led talks approach, the international community will be closely monitoring developments in the hope that a lasting peace agreement can be reached.

The war in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on the civilian population, with thousands of lives lost and widespread damage to infrastructure. The upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi represent a crucial opportunity for all parties involved to engage in meaningful dialogue and work towards a comprehensive resolution to the conflict.