Russia and Ukraine launched drone and missile attacks on each other’s capital cities early on Thursday, November 12, 2026, shortly after two days of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi concluded without a broader peace agreement. While explosions were heard across Kyiv, officials did not immediately report any damage within the city. In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that Russian air defenses intercepted five drones approaching the capital.
The latest exchange of fire followed a diplomatic session in the United Arab Emirates involving U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. While the parties reached an agreement on what Kushner described as the "biggest humanitarian release of prisoners" of the nearly five-year war, they remained divided over territorial disputes. Russian negotiators continued to demand recognition of seized eastern Ukrainian lands, a condition Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected, citing concerns that territorial concessions would not prevent future Russian aggression.
On Thursday morning, Kushner and Witkoff traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. The envoys were expected to discuss the potential inclusion of European partners in future talks, a move supported by Kyiv and Kushner but opposed by Moscow. Following the Kremlin meetings, the U.S. delegation was scheduled to fly to Dublin, Ireland, to coordinate next steps with President Zelenskyy.
The diplomatic process also signals a shift in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration, as negotiators push for a resolution ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in January 2027, when Democrats are set to take control of Congress. This political transition in Washington could influence the level of future military and financial support provided to Ukraine. Furthermore, the inclusion or exclusion of European partners, NATO, and the EU in these talks sets a precedent for how continental security is managed.
The military conflict continues to have a measurable impact on regional infrastructure and labor. Recent strikes on the Russian port of Ust-Luga damaged five oil tanks, affecting one of the country's primary oil export facilities and injuring three workers. In Ukraine, a drone strike on Wednesday killed an employee of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, marking the 15th such death reported by the facility's management since April. The next steps include the finalization of prisoner exchange numbers on Thursday and the scheduled meeting between U.S. envoys and President Zelenskyy in Dublin. Future high-level diplomacy may also include a potential trilateral summit between President Trump, President Xi Jinping, and President Putin during upcoming APEC or G20 meetings.