Ukraine-Russia talks: negotiators gather in Abu Dhabi in wake of ‘massive’ strikes on Kyiv – Europe live

Both sides downplay chances of immediate breakthrough in US-brokered talks as western allies reportedly weigh new defence pactWhat do most Ukrainians and Russians want?Battered by a historically cold winter and facing gruelling months ahead, with much of its civilian infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes, Ukrainians are showing clear signs of exhaustion. While the desire for peace is widespread, polling indicates firm resistance to any settlement that would see the entire Donbas region handed over to Russia in exchange for US and European security guarantees and an end to the war. Many in the country fear such a compromise would not bring lasting peace, but instead embolden Moscow to press its campaign further.Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Moscow carried out a massive and “deliberate” attack on Monday night into Tuesday as temperatures in Kyiv plunged to -20C. It involved a record number of 71 ballistic missiles as well as 450 drones, he said, sent to destroy energy infrastructure.US president Donald Trump had said the new strikes did not – as Ukraine claimed – amount to a breach of Russia’s week-long commitment to hold off on striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure amid freezing winter temperatures, but Nato chief Mark Rutte said on Tuesday that the attacks “did not “signal seriousness about peace”.Under a proposal discussed between Ukrainian, European and US officials, sources briefed on the discussions have told the Financial Times, Kyiv has agreed with western allies that repeated breaches of any future ceasefire agreement from Russia would lead to a coordinated US-Europe military response.And meanwhile, as Julian Borger reports, the New Start treaty between the US and Russia expires on Thursday, removing the last remaining mutual limits on the world’s two biggest nuclear arsenals. Continue reading...