Politics Ukrainians and Russians continue talks in Abu Dhabi
Ukrainians and Russians want to resume their direct negotiations on ending the war, which began a week ago, in the United Arab Emirates today.
01.02.2026, 04:16
SDA
The Kremlin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the date in the capital Abu Dhabi, but - as last week - did not name an exact place or time. A week ago, the talks were held in camera and mediated by the USA with its chief negotiator Steve Witkoff. This time, the warring parties are negotiating without US representatives.
Witkoff met with Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev in Miami on Saturday. The Russian told X that there had been a constructive meeting with the US delegation. He had also held productive talks with a working group on US-Russian economic relations.
Talks in Miami before negotiations in Abu Dhabi
For his part, Witkoff wrote that there had been productive and constructive talks with Dmitriev in the course of the US mediation attempt to resolve the Ukraine war. The meeting had reinforced the view that Russia was working towards securing peace in Ukraine. According to Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and government advisor Josh Gruenbaum were also present on the US side.
Despite the numerous meetings, which have repeatedly been described as "constructive" and "productive", an agreement on a peace deal is not yet in sight. Central to Moscow's demands are territorial cessions. Russia is demanding that Ukraine also withdraw from those parts of the Donbass - which includes the Luhansk and Donetsk regions - that are still controlled by Kiev. Ukrainian President Zelenskyi has repeatedly rejected such territorial cessions.
Zelensky demands clarity from the US about new meetings
Following the meeting between Russia's Dmitriev and the US delegation, Zelenskyi announced that Kiev was now expecting concrete information on further meetings next week. "Ukraine is ready to cooperate in all working formats. It is important that there are results," he said in his evening video message. He did not mention the negotiations planned for today in Abu Dhabi.
The Ukrainian delegation is headed by chief negotiator Rustem Umjerow. The Russian negotiating team is led by the head of military intelligence, Igor Kostyukov.
At the request of US President Donald Trump, Russia declared its willingness to temporarily refrain from new attacks on the country's energy infrastructure due to the extreme cold and the already extensive damage in Kiev and other cities. Attacks on other targets continued, however. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the limited ceasefire would only last until this Sunday in order to create a good basis for negotiations.
Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for almost four years with Western help.
Energy supply problems continue in Ukraine
In the Ukrainian capital Kiev, around 2,600 houses are still without heating following a major power cut, as Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on Telegram on Saturday evening. In his video message shortly beforehand, Selenskyj had called for even more speed in restoring the power supply.
The reason for the massive problems in many parts of the country was a failure of two lines between Romania and Moldova and on the territory of Ukraine, as Selenskyj explained. It was a day in a state of emergency for the government, the Ministry of Energy, the energy companies and regional and local authorities. "The causes are currently being investigated," said Selenskyj.
It is possible that icing on the lines was the reason for the collapse. "There is currently no evidence of external interference or a cyber attack," said Selenskyj. The country had also increased its electricity imports. Ukraine's energy system is severely damaged, especially after the many Russian attacks.
Meanwhile, the state utility Ukrenergo announced that the situation in the Ukrainian energy system is gradually stabilizing. Nevertheless, electricity will once again be switched off in all regions of Ukraine on an hourly basis today in order to limit consumption.
