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Ukraine reported major overnight drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv described as a ‘brutal’ escalation, hitting energy and civilian infrastructure and complicating delicate trilateral talks involving the U.S., Ukraine and Russia in the United Arab Emirates. Officials warned that the strikes — which targeted power and heating systems amid winter cold — risk undermining trust in negotiations by applying battlefield pressure while diplomats seek frameworks for de-escalation. Separately, a set of trilateral meetings in Abu Dhabi showed limited progress, with participants saying they narrowed some issues but left core territorial disputes unresolved. Observers say the timing underscores the difficulty of converting diplomatic контакты into a stable ceasefire when combatants continue kinetic operations, and they warn that ongoing attacks raise humanitarian stakes for civilians reliant on electricity and heating.