Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a second round of U.S.-brokered direct peace talks next weekend, following a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi. This comes despite Ukrainian complaints that the negotiations were undermined by a barrage of deadly strikes. The trilateral talks in the UAE will resume on February 1, a U.S. official said on Saturday, adding, “I think getting everyone together was a big step. It confirms that a lot of progress has been made in defining the details needed to reach a conclusion.” These talks marked the first known direct contact between Ukrainian and Russian officials on a plan promoted by Donald Trump to end the nearly four-year war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “a lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive.”
Russia faced criticism for launching drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv—Ukraine’s two largest cities—during the peace talks in Abu Dhabi. “Peace efforts? Trilateral meeting in the UAE? Diplomacy? For Ukrainians, this was another night of Russian terror,” said Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha after the latest Russian assault on critical infrastructure. With Kyiv and other cities experiencing widespread outages of heat, water, and power due to attacks on energy infrastructure, officials in the capital reported one person killed and at least 15 injured in strikes that continued until morning.
Ahead of the trilateral peace talks, U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for four hours in Moscow. A U.S. official described the discussion as “very, very productive,” focusing on the final unresolved issues.
In the Russian border region of Belgorod, the governor reported that Ukrainian forces launched a “massive” attack on the region’s main town, damaging energy infrastructure but causing no casualties. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that a building in the town of Belgorod had been set on fire, with emergency crews responding. A downed drone also damaged homes in a nearby village.
The Russian defense ministry announced on Saturday that its forces had taken control of the village of Starytsya in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region. The village is near Vovchansk, close to the Ukraine-Russia border, where Russian forces began an incursion in May 2024 and have since sought to extend their gains despite Ukrainian resistance. Ukraine’s military general staff said late Saturday that Russian forces had launched six attacks in an area including Starytsya but did not acknowledge the village had been captured. Ukraine’s DeepState military blog did not mention the village in a Friday report but noted Russian forces “are continuing their pressure in the Vovchansk area.” These battlefield reports could not be independently verified.
Separately, French authorities said an intercepted oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet was heading to a port in southern France for inspection. The tanker, the Grinch, was intercepted on Thursday in international waters between Spain and North Africa. French prosecutors suspect it is part of a network of vessels Moscow uses to evade sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine. The regional maritime prefecture said the tanker would be anchored at Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille and held for investigation for failing to fly a flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the reported Ukraine war update framed in a natural tone with clear direct answers
General Beginner Questions
1 Whats the latest big news about the Ukraine war talks
The latest news is that Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are preparing to meet in person for a new round of peace talks This comes after the US State Department noted significant progress was made in recent virtual discussions
2 Where will these new inperson talks be held
The specific location hasnt been officially confirmed but previous inperson rounds have been held in Belarus and Turkey Turkey is a likely candidate for this next meeting
3 What does significant progress mean What have they agreed on
While details are still emerging reports suggest the most tangible progress is on a potential agreement for Ukrainian neutrality This means Ukraine would promise not to join military alliances like NATO in exchange for security guarantees from other countries Other points like the status of Crimea and eastern Donbas are much more difficult and unresolved
4 What is Ukrainian neutrality and why is it a big deal
Neutrality means Ukraine would formally commit to not joining any military alliances For Russia this was a core demand to prevent NATO expansion For Ukraine agreeing to this is a major concession but they seek binding security guarantees from other nations to protect them in the future
Advanced Detailed Questions
5 If theres significant progress why is the fighting still so intense
Diplomatic progress and military action often happen simultaneously Both sides may be fighting to improve their bargaining position before a potential deal Russia is likely trying to capture more territory to cement facts on the ground while Ukraine is defending fiercely to strengthen its negotiating hand
6 What are the main sticking points still blocking a full agreement
The two biggest hurdles are
The status of Crimea and the Donbas regions Ukraine views these as illegally occupied territory Russia likely wants Ukraine to recognize its control over them which is a very high bar for any Ukrainian government
The nature of security guarantees Ukraine wants legally binding NATOstyle protections from guarantor countries Figuring out who provides these guarantees and how they would be enforced militarily is extremely complex
