Winter Storm Alerts Impact 200 Million; Trilateral Ukraine Talks Set for Abu Dhabi

Lead: A major winter storm system is forecast to impact more than 200 million people across the United States this weekend as officials warn of hazardous ice accumulation. Simultaneously, high-level trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to begin Friday in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the war.

What we know

• A major winter storm is expected to affect more than 200 million people in the U.S. this weekend, with freezing rain and ice posing a significant hazard in several regions SOURCE.
• Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy confirmed the first trilateral meeting between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. will take place in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday SOURCE.
• Tesla has deployed public Robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas, operating without human safety monitors for the first time SOURCE.
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota detained a 5-year-old asylum seeker and his father during an enforcement operation SOURCE.
• The Minnesota Department of Corrections released video footage to dispute Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accounts regarding recent arrests and ICE detainers SOURCE.
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average is on track for a narrow weekly gain following two consecutive sessions of increases as geopolitical concerns shifted SOURCE.
• The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) activated its winter weather response, urging residents to avoid travel due to predicted ice SOURCE.
• The Great Northern winter festival in the Twin Cities postponed select events, citing public safety concerns SOURCE.

What we don’t know yet

• The specific agenda items or baseline terms for the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi have not been publicly disclosed.
• The total number of Minneapolis businesses that will participate in the planned Friday strike against ICE enforcement is unconfirmed.
• The scale and duration of Tesla’s unmonitored Robotaxi pilot program in Austin remain unspecified.
• The precise nature of the "public safety concerns" cited by Great Northern festival organizers for event postponements has not been detailed.

Why it matters

• Public Safety: Ice accumulation for 200 million residents carries risks of widespread power outages and hazardous road conditions.
• Geopolitics: The Abu Dhabi meeting marks the most direct high-level diplomatic attempt to negotiate a settlement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
• Transportation: Tesla’s removal of safety monitors represents a shift in autonomous vehicle deployment and regulatory testing in urban environments.
• Policy: Disputes between Minnesota state officials and federal DHS authorities highlight friction regarding immigration enforcement protocols.

What’s next

• Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. commence Friday in Abu Dhabi and continue through Saturday.
• A business strike in Minneapolis is scheduled for Friday to protest recent ICE enforcement actions.
• U.S. equity markets open Friday morning to conclude the trading week.
• Winter weather alerts are expected to remain in effect through the weekend as the storm system traverses the central and eastern U.S.
• Holyoke city officials are expected to address calls for a councilor's resignation following the release of police arrest footage.