Russia and Ukraine Trade Long-Range Strikes Ahead of U.S.-Brokered Talks

Russia and Ukraine exchanged long-range strikes on Monday, with Russia hitting Ukrainian power infrastructure and Ukraine targeting a major Russian oil refinery, just hours before new U.S.-brokered talks were set to begin in Abu Dhabi. The attacks underscore the ongoing intensity of the nearly five-year conflict. Russia's defense ministry said it struck four electrical substations in Ukrainian regions, part of a campaign to cut power and heating during winter, while Ukraine's long-range drones ignited a fire at the KINEF refinery near St. Petersburg. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the European Union activated an emergency mechanism to speed up funding for grid repairs. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in a recent interview that Moscow and Kyiv are "very close" to a deal, though he offered no specifics. The talks, scheduled for Tuesday, will focus on security guarantees, with Russia insisting on trilateral negotiations and excluding European officials, despite France's assertion that European representatives will be present.