Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia breached its commitment to hold off on energy infrastructure attacks for a week when it launched a major assault on Ukraine overnight. The strikes reported Tuesday came as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited Kyiv and a day before U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. Zelenskyy said Russia targeted the power grid in five regions of Ukraine in what he said was a bid to deny civilians light, heating and water during a harsh winter. He urged allies to send more air defense supplies and increase pressure on Russia. Talks between Moscow and Kyiv have been described as constructive, but a comprehensive settlement remains distant.
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Iran’s president says he has instructed the country’s foreign minister to “pursue fair and equitable negotiations” with the United States. The comments on Tuesday from reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian represent the first clear signal from Iran that it may take part in negotiations being organized by Turkey. Pezeshkian made the comments on X. He said: “I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists — one free from threats and unreasonable expectations — to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency.” The U.S. has yet to acknowledge the talks will take place.
A dozen Palestinian returnees were allowed into Gaza and a few medical evacuees exited to Egypt Monday after the long-awaited reopening of the Rafah border crossing was marred by delays. The reopening of the crossing is a key step in ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, but it is mostly symbolic at this point. Few Palestinians will be allowed to cross in either direction daily. About 20,000 Palestinian children and adults needing medical care hope to leave devastated Gaza via the crossing, according to Gaza health officials. Thousands of other Palestinians outside the territory hope to enter and return home. The crossing had been closed since Israeli troops seized it in May 2024.
A new round of U.S.-brokered talks on ending Russia’s war on Ukraine is set to go ahead this week. A senior Kremlin official said Monday that negotiations will take place Wednesday and Thursday in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he would send a delegation. The talks reportedly were postponed due to scheduling conflicts. The Trump administration has pushed for compromises, but key issues remain unresolved. Russia wants to keep occupied Ukrainian territories, while its drones and missiles continue to bombard civilian areas. Ukraine is taking steps to prevent Russia from using Starlink satellite services to steer its drones.
Turkey is trying to bring U.S. and Iranian officials to the negotiating table to ease tensions and avoid U.S. military action against Iran. Neither country has confirmed participation. Turkish officials are working to organize a meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian leaders, possibly by the end of the week. Meanwhile, Iran has summoned EU ambassadors in response to the EU agreeing to list Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terror group.
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Iran’s supreme leader has warned that any U.S. attack would trigger a “regional war” in the Mideast. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens military action against Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln and American warships are in the Arabian Sea following Tehran’s crackdown on protests. Iran plans a military drill in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil passage. Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament has labeled European Union militaries as terrorist groups after the bloc declared Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terror group. Trump says Iran is “seriously talking” to the U.S. but hasn’t decided on military action.
Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt has reopened for limited traffic, a key step in the ceasefire, officials say.
Palestinians in Gaza are watching with hope and impatience as workers lay the groundwork to reopen the territory’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt, its lifeline to the world. Israel says the crossing is scheduled to resume Monday as its ceasefire with Hamas moves ahead. Almost all travel in and out of Gaza has been blocked since the start of the war. Thousands of Palestinians await medical evacuations, and thousands of others want to return home. Also on Sunday, Israel said Doctors Without Borders must end its work in Gaza because it refused to comply with new requirements to submit lists of local employees. The charity has said the regulations could endanger Palestinian staff.
Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 30 Palestinians, marking one of the highest tolls since the October ceasefire. Hospitals in Gaza say several children are among the dead after strikes on an apartment building in Gaza City and a tent camp in Khan Younis on Saturday. An airstrike on a police station in Gaza City killed and wounded at least 14. The strikes came a day after Israel accused Hamas of new ceasefire violations. They also came a day before the Rafah crossing with Egypt is set to open, marking a significant step as the second phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire advances.
Emergency power cuts have hit several Ukrainian cities and neighboring Moldova. Ukraine’s Energy Minister says a technical malfunction caused the outages, affecting power lines between Ukraine and Moldova. Blackouts were reported in Kyiv and other regions, cutting water supplies and suspending the subway. Moldova also faced major power outages. This comes amid Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, described as “weaponizing winter.” President Trump says Putin agreed to pause strikes on Kyiv during extreme cold. Talks between U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials are expected soon, but peace remains uncertain.