Ukraine Peace Talks Strikes continue despite diplomacy as Russian forces launched another wave of drone attacks across Ukraine on February 4, even while US-backed negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow resumed in the United Arab Emirates. The strikes underline the ongoing tension, showing that while talks are happening, the fighting and civilian risks remain severe.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia fired more than 100 drones overnight, targeting several regions across the country. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, local authorities confirmed that two civilians were killed and two others injured when a drone struck residential areas.
According to Mykola Lukashuk, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional administration, the attack claimed the lives of a 68-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man. As damage to homes and infrastructure was reported, emergency teams worked all night.
The renewed strikes came as Ukrainian, Russian, and US representatives met in Abu Dhabi for rare direct talks aimed at easing Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. The negotiations began on January 23 and 24 and were held in a trilateral format, marking one of the few moments of direct engagement between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, confirmed the start of the talks; he said discussions opened with joint meetings before moving into separate working groups focused on specific issues. According to Umerov, negotiators plan to regroup later to align positions and assess progress.
Media reports say the United States is represented by President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who is leading Washington’s diplomatic efforts at the table. The White House has said it supports dialogue but remains cautious about expectations.
Any hope for a major breakthrough appears limited. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on February 4 that Russia’s position has not changed and remains “absolutely clear” to both Ukrainian and American negotiators.
Ukrainian analysts have warned against reading too much into the talks. Political analyst Ihor Reiterovych said there is no guarantee President Vladimir Putin would stop military operations even if Russia secures control over parts of Ukrainian territory.
Reiterovych also called for stronger security guarantees for Ukraine, stressing that any future agreement must avoid the weaknesses of past deals. He pointed to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances that later failed to prevent invasion.
The timing of the talks has raised concerns in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials say Moscow often uses diplomatic engagement to gain time while intensifying attacks on the ground. The latest strikes, which hit Kyiv and other regions, reinforced those fears.
As the fourth anniversary of the war approaches later this month, Ukraine peace talk strikes continue to highlight the sharp contrast between diplomatic efforts and the reality facing civilians under fire.
