US envoy Steve Witkoff describes recent discussions with a Russian counterpart in Florida as constructive, advancing Washington’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. These talks occurred on Saturday, just before Ukrainian and Russian negotiators plan to convene in Abu Dhabi for a US-supported initiative to end the fighting.
Key Developments in Diplomatic Efforts
Witkoff shared on social media that Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev participated in productive meetings focused on mediation for a peaceful outcome in Ukraine. “We are encouraged by this meeting that Russia is working toward securing peace in Ukraine,” Witkoff stated. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and White House senior adviser Josh Gruenbaum also joined the discussions. Details of the agenda remain undisclosed by both parties.
The upcoming Abu Dhabi session marks the second round of direct negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian teams, following their initial in-person talks last week. US officials indicate both sides approach a potential agreement, though challenges persist over territorial arrangements in any postwar deal, as noted by sources in Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for tangible outcomes during his Saturday evening address. He mentioned that negotiators await confirmation from the US on additional sessions and expressed concerns about possible delays due to the ongoing US-Iran tensions. “Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats,” Zelenskyy said. “It is important that there are results and that the meetings take place. We are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for them.”
Power Outages Hit Ukraine and Moldova
Emergency blackouts affected multiple Ukrainian cities and neighboring Moldova on Saturday, officials report, as Ukraine endures one of its harshest winters. These disruptions coincide with Russia’s pledge to suspend strikes on Kyiv, following a request from US President Donald Trump.
Trump announced on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for one week to facilitate negotiations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Trump personally asked Putin to halt targeting of the capital until Sunday, aiming to foster better conditions for talks.
Zelenskyy highlighted on social media that Russian forces have shifted focus to Ukrainian logistics networks amid this temporary reprieve. Ukraine’s Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal attributed the Saturday outages to a technical issue with power lines connecting Ukraine and Moldova. “The failure caused a cascading outage in Ukraine’s power grid, triggering automatic protection systems,” Shmyhal explained.
Blackouts impacted Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv regions in central and northeastern Ukraine. In the capital, water supplies halted, and the subway system paused operations due to insufficient voltage, stranding passengers. Ukraine’s state emergency service assisted in evacuating around 500 people from metro stations.
Moldova faced similar widespread disruptions, including in the capital Chisinau. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu stated on Facebook that the loss of Ukrainian power lines activated safety mechanisms, cutting electricity supplies. “I encourage the population to stay calm until electricity is restored,” Junghietu urged.
These incidents follow sustained Russian assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which officials in Kyiv label as an attempt to deprive civilians of essential services like heat, light, and water during the war. Forecasters predict severe cold persisting into next week, with temperatures plunging to -30C in some areas.
