Envoys from Moscow and Kyiv met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for another round of U.S.-brokered talks on ending the almost four-year war, as a Russian attack using cluster munitions killed seven people at a market in Ukraine.
The delegations from Moscow and Kyiv were joined in the capital of the United Arab Emirates by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council chief who attended the meeting.
“The discussions were substantive and productive, focusing on concrete steps and practical solutions,” Umerov said on social media as the first of two days of talks wrapped up.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a breakthrough in the talks may not come for a while but the Trump administration has made great progress on negotiations over the past year.
“That’s the good news,” Rubio told reporters Wednesday. “The bad news is that the items that remain are the most difficult ones. And meanwhile the war continues.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov wouldn’t offer any details on the talks and said that Moscow wasn’t planning to comment on their results.
He said that “the doors for a peaceful settlement are open,” but that Moscow will proceed with its military campaign until Kyiv meets its demands.
Last month’s discussions in Abu Dhabi, part of a U.S. push to end the fighting, yielded some progress but no breakthrough on key issues, officials said.
The current talks also coincide with the expiry of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States on Thursday. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could extend the terms of the treaty or renegotiate its conditions in an effort to prevent a new nuclear arms race.
The Abu Dhabi talks were held as Ukrainians were outraged over major Russian attacks on their energy system, which have occurred each winter since Russia launched its all-out invasion of its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022.
A huge Russian bombardment overnight from Monday to Tuesday included hundreds of drones and a record 32 ballistic missiles, wounding at least 10 people. This came despite Ukraine’s understanding that Putin had told Trump that he would temporarily halt strikes on Ukraine’s power grid.
Ukrainian civilians are struggling with one of the coldest winters in years, which saw temperatures dip to around minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit).
About 60 foreign ambassadors took part in an organized visit Wednesday to a Kyiv thermal power plant that was almost completely destroyed by missiles and drones in the Monday night attack. The plant provided heating to about 500,000 people.
Russia is hitting Ukraine’s energy facilities because its armed forces believe the targets are associated with Kyiv’s military effort, Peskov said.
There has been a lack of clarity about how long Putin had promised to observe a pause on power grid attacks.
Trump said Tuesday at the White House that Putin had agreed to halt strikes for a week, through Feb. 1, and that the Russian leader had kept his word. But Zelenskyy said Tuesday that “barely four days have passed of the week Russia was asked to hold off,” before Ukraine was hit with new attacks, suggesting that the Ukrainian leader wasn't fully aware of the terms of the Trump-Putin agreement.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump was “unfortunately unsurprised” by Moscow’s resumption of attacks.
On Wednesday, more than 200 repair crews were at work in Kyiv to restore power, according to the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, which said that staff were exhausted and would be rotated. More than 1,100 apartment buildings in the capital were still without heating, Zelenskyy said.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said that the developments were part of Moscow’s negotiating strategy.
“The Kremlin will likely attempt to portray its adherence to this short-term energy strikes moratorium as a significant concession to gain leverage in the upcoming peace talks, even though the Kremlin used these few days to stockpile missiles for a larger strike package,” it said late Tuesday.
Russia used cluster munitions Wednesday in an attack on a busy market in eastern Ukraine that killed seven and wounded 15 others, officials said.
The attack on the town of Druzhkivka darkened prospects for progress in the UAE, with Donetsk regional military administration chief Vadym Filashkin describing Russian talk of a ceasefire as “worthless.”
Russia also launched 105 drones against Ukraine overnight, and air defenses shot down 88 of them, the Ukrainian air force said Wednesday. Strikes by 17 drones were recorded at 14 locations, as well as falling debris at five sites, it said.
In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, a Russian strike on a residential area killed a 68-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man, regional military administration head Oleksandr Hancha said.
The southern city of Odesa also came under a large-scale attack, regional military administration head Oleh Kiper said. About 20 residential buildings were damaged, with four people rescued from under the rubble, he said.
© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
62 Comments
Underworld
Zelensky would potentially give up land for rock solid security guarantees. But nobody in their right mind would trust Trump and his stooges: Witkoff and Kushner (aka Tweedledum and Tweedledee).
JJE
This is lazy reporting at its worst. The insinuation that Moscow violated the "understanding" was explicitly refuted by Washington just hours ago but no mention of it.
The most important detail to emerge has been conveniently omitted again - in the last few hours the White House confirmed the energy moratorium ran from the 25th, expiring on Feb 1st.
But that was publicly known because it was publicly announced last week. However, some chose to ignore it, or simply didn't know, precisely because certain media chose to omit it.
The key takeaway is Putin kept his word and the 4-day thing (or this coming Friday) was simply false.
Underworld
JJE
Well, they broke it straight away then, because they hit energy infrastructure on the 25th.
JJE
No, they didn't.
My apologies - the article does include the WH confirming Moscow adhered to the energy moratorium.
It then explains away Zelensky's misleading comments yesterday as speculating he wasn't fully aware.
Let's give him the benefit of the doubt then for that not inconsiderable error.
For the public record: it's a provable fact the moratorium expired on Feb 1st (Sunday to Sunday) and Russia abided by the understanding and Putin kept his word.
JJE
Next issue to address is the "record 32 ballistic missiles".
Yesterday in the article it was 70.
Now it has more than halved.
Frankly not sure how they are coming up with these figures. Need more information on the strike composition and the target packages to make an assessment, but treat it with a large sharker of salt. For example, in Dec of 2023 (I think the 29th) there was a strike with over 150 missiles. Granted, some of these were cruise missiles, but there is a broad quiver of air, ground and sea launched projectiles employed on a regular basis. If anyone could shed some light on this, please do.
Underworld
JJE
Yup. Trump lied, letting Putin off the hook.
Nope.
And let's not forget he unleashed his biggest ballistic missile strike of the war on energy infrastructure, the day before peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
It just shows that Putin has no interest in peace.
JJE
There is no evidence Trump lied. There were no strikes on energy infrastructure from the 25th to the 31st. All previous public statements match up with the facts, except for yesterday's.
Which means there is undoubtedly strong circumstantial and anecdotal evidence that Zelensky did, assuming one doesn't accept the "wasn't fully aware" excuse they slipped into the article on his behalf.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Putin's warcrimes need to brought to an end.
Underworld
JJE
He did.
And yet:
Consumers in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts have been left without power after Russian strikes on energy infrastructure on the night of 25-26 January.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/01/26/8017914/
JJE
Not a legitimate news source.
Underworld
JJE
On cue. If you are proven wrong, try to discredit the messenger...
LOLZ
Blacklabel
Zero gratitude for all the efforts made. Should just wrap it up and leave Ukraine to their already determined fate then.
Mr Kipling
Really? So the Ukrainians are not prevailing? Not retaking Crimea?
Good to see reality is starting to come into focus.
Mr Kipling
Just ignore all numbers of missiles, drones and rockets fired and shot down by both sides. Neither will be honest. Just look at the results. In this case the power went off in most of Ukraine so probably quite a few missiles found their targets.
Blacklabel
Yeah that’s new that Zelensky would supposedly give up land now. But he’s winning!
Underworld
Blacklabel
But nobody in their right mind would trust Trump and his stooges: Witkoff and Kushner (aka Tweedledum and Tweedledee).
Witkoff and Kushner aren't doing a thing for peace in Ukraine; they just want to forge business deals with Russia. And maybe Witkoff shouldn't be on the negotiation team because he has business interests in Russia.
Underworld
Mr Kipling
Zelensky would potentially give up land for rock solid security guarantees.
This war is about sovereignty, not territory. Try to keep up.
Underworld
JJE
Next issue to address is the "record 32 ballistic missiles".
Nope. It wasn't.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Yes. He is winning on the battlefield.
Underworld
Mr Kipling
Frankly not sure how they are coming up with these figures. Need more information on the strike composition and the target packages to make an assessment,
Ukraine's figures are accurate.
Blacklabel
then why would he give up land?
does not compute.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Yes. He is winning on the battlefield.
Because as I said, this isn't about territory, it is about sovereignty.
But the biggest problem is that Trump has eroded trust in US security guarantees. Because nobody trusts that he would honor them.
In which case, Zelensky would be better to keep the land and grind down Russian troops taking years to take the territory.
JJE
Yes, it was.
As per yesterday's Ukraine conflict article (Feb 4, four days after the moratorium expired):
"Ukraine officials said Russia launched 450 drones and over 70 missiles in strikes...."
It also described that as a "record" of ballistic missiles.
It's written in black and white, so, yes it is.
Underworld
JJE
Oh dear, you got it mixed up. The 70 misiles were "ballistic and cruise" missiles.
TaiwanIsNotChina
We've been saying that Trump should go back to invading other allies if he isn't going to do anything helpful in Ukraine.
Blacklabel
i agree! Good luck with that!
and Ukraine: stop calling us to mediate your problems or to ask us to fund, arm or protect you, you got this!
TaiwanIsNotChina
I've been saying for years that the fight now is for Ukraine's independence from the invader. Of course the russian is extremely poor at war so you never know when they might have a coup or collapse of their lines from incompetence.
TaiwanIsNotChina
You are going to continue to hear from them because Trump national security negligence should not be forgotten.
Blacklabel
its not Trump National security team responsibility for any of this in any way.
So how would they “negligent”?
We kindly gave them 100s of billions of dollars, most of our weapons stockpiles, negotiated and advocated for them dozens of times with Russia and EU. and they still can’t win.
Too bad for them I guess, wasn’t meant to be.
TaiwanIsNotChina
You see, people that understand national security know that we fight the russian in the East so we don't have to fight them in the West.
Europe gave more.
You see, people that understand national security know that you have to pay what it costs to defeat the russian, not try to declare national security bankruptcy to avoid paying bills.
Too bad for Americans who expected their president not to leave America isolated in the world.
Blacklabel
False premise- we don’t need to “fight” Russia anywhere. I’m fact it’s highly preferable that we don’t unless we really have to.
And definitely not over something as insignificant as Ukraine.
Blacklabel
Why fight? Can’t we just give Russia a “reset” button again?
Underworld
Blacklabel
that we fight the russian in the East so we don't have to fight them in the West.
Which is why the US should support Ukraine. Otherwise, if Russia continues past Ukraine and attack another NATO member, the US is obligated to send troops on the ground.
It's not about Ukraine, it's about letting murderous dictators getting away with illegal invasions.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Well, Trump did promise he would end the war in Ukraine. Voters voted for that...
Blacklabel
they won’t.
But he lied 32,522 times in one year! Lol
no they voted for immigration and cheap eggs.
Underworld
Blacklabel
if Russia continues past Ukraine and attack another NATO member,
Not according to US intelligence.
Well, Trump did promise he would end the war in Ukraine.
What's one more broken promise, eh?
Voters voted for that...
And ending the war in Ukraine.
okinawarides
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a breakthrough in the talks may not come for a while but the Trump administration has made great progress on negotiations over the past year.
Very true. Substantial progress on the peace talks vs zero under the previous administration. Important that Trump admin stays focused and relentlessly pursues the peace talks despite the anti Trump, pro war crowd objections.
okinawarides
This came despite Ukraine’s understanding that Putin had told Trump that he would temporarily halt strikes on Ukraine’s power grid.
That temporary halt expired on February 1.
HopeSpringsEternal
Great they're talking and Ukraine's desperation continues to grow as the 1 week pause on energy attacks has ended and Putin "kept his word' per Trump
Ukraine's failed state status grows daily, while they lose territory, depopulate and their proxy creditor debt grows with an economy that has essentially evaporated.
Zelenskyy waited too long, he's too emotional, every day Ukraine has less and less leverage and more and more desperation that more proxy partners won't walk away
HopeSpringsEternal
There will be no escalation in Ukraine, as Trump's stated plainly in his US National Security Strategy that Stability with Russia (and China) is essential and thus Ukraine's the PROBLEM, this tragic conflict, since 2014, must end
Direct talks a very good sign, because there's no other realistic path for Ukraine except Peace, hopefully it happens soon, so Ukraine can start to finally recover
okinawarides
Anyone is free to donate their savings for the war effort, walk the talk.
we fight the russian in the East so we don't have to fight them in the West.*One thing we know for sure is that our experts who keep calling for the fight to continue have not / will not volunteer for the UA frontlines. More comfortable to tell others to fight from a safe sofa far away.
okinawarides
Yup. Trump lied, letting Putin off the hook.
Proof that Trump lied.
Nope.
Proof that it didn't please.
Underworld
okinawarides
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a breakthrough in the talks may not come for a while but the Trump administration has made great progress on negotiations over the past year.
They have made zero progress. All they have is an agreement that Putin will not sign.
Blacklabel
sounds like progress over having no agreement.
Underworld
Blacklabel
All they have is an agreement
Indeed!
Underworld
They have no agreement.
HopeSpringsEternal
Ukraine's also hitting Russian energy facilities, it's just that Russia is doing so much more effectively and at far larger scale, this is a conflict dating back to 2014 after all
Face to face talks, a great sign however, especially as Ukraine continues to disintegrate into a failed state, badly indebted to its proxy war creditors
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Russia is hitting Ukraine’s energy facilities because its armed forces believe the targets are associated with Kyiv’s military effort, Peskov said.
More lies from Peskov.
Ukraine are only hitting Russian energy facilities while Russia targets Ukrainian energy facilities. They have said that they will stop when Russia stops.
Blacklabel
a guy: All they have is an agreement
same guy, minutes later: They have no agreement.
Blacklabel
so you see, they have an agreement but they don’t have an agreement! lol
Underworld
okinawarides
My apologies - the article does include the WH confirming Moscow adhered to the energy moratorium.
Yup. Trump lied, letting Putin off the hook.
Trump said he ask a a ceasefire on energy infrastructure for a week. It was less than a week. Hence a lie.
For the public record: it's a provable fact the moratorium expired on Feb 1st (Sunday to Sunday) and Russia abided by the understanding and Putin kept his word.
Nope.
Because, while the end date is correct, the start date is not.
On 25th Jan Russia launched a massive assault on Kyiv's energy grid, and on 26th/27th Jan, Russia bombed Kharkiv and Odesa energy infrastructure.
Underworld
Blacklabel
An agreement that one party does won't sign, isn't an agreement. That is my point.
okinawarides
".Zelensky would potentially give up land for rock solid security guarantees"
Well this is quite a turnaround. We have been told on here daily by the experts that Zelensky will not surrender any land to the Russians...Taiwan?
Baghdad Bob tales.
okinawarides
"Well, Trump did promise he would end the war in Ukraine. Voters voted for that..."
Indeed, hence the importance of pursuing the peace talks. Zelensky highly appreciates POTUS efforts -" President Zelensky has praised Trump's focus on ending the conflict, stating that he trusts the US President's efforts "because he genuinely wants to end this war".
Seems poster may have gotten a copy of the nafo manual.
Underworld
okinawarides
".Zelensky would potentially give up land for rock solid security guarantees"
My point being that apart from Putin not willing to sign the peace deal, Zelensky cannot trust security guarantees from Trump and so will not give away any land.
If Kamala had been in power, that would be completely different.
So you can see another reason why Trump is failing at a peace deal.
Yeah that’s new that Zelensky would supposedly give up land now. But he’s winning!.....Yes. He is winning on the battlefield.
He is extracting hundred of thousands of Russians for very little extra land. The Russian's are doing terribly on the battlefield.
Which is why Putin is putting his faith in targeting civilian energy infrastructure, to make life miserable for Ukrainians. It is precisely because he is failing on the battlefield so badly.
okinawarides
"Underworld - They have made zero progress. "
Zelensky disagrees with that so which one of you is wrong ?
"Zelensky has publicly stated there has been** "quite solid progress" in President Trump led peace talks "**
"You see, people that understand national security know that you have to pay what it costs to defeat the russian, not try to declare national security bankruptcy to avoid paying bills."
You see most voters don't want US fighting Russia, despite nafo minority disagreeing. Anyone can donate their private savings to the war effort if they so wish, so do go on.
okinawarides
Underworld 12:39pm - If Kamala had been in power, that would be completely different.
Indeed Kamala would have been a total disaster and completely out of her depth. Thankfully US voters knew that.
So you can see another reason why Trump is failing at a peace deal.
Not according to Zelensky, he says Trump is making "solid progress" on peace talks.
Underworld
okinawarides
"Underworld - They have made zero progress. "
Neither.
As I have said, he is flattering Trump.
"You see, people that understand national security know that you have to pay what it costs to defeat the russian, not try to declare national security bankruptcy to avoid paying bills."
No, but most voters support Ukraine and they support giving Ukraine aid. If Trump wants peace, why doesn't he send more missiles so that Ukraine can better defend the energy infrastructure?
Underworld
okinawarides
Underworld 12:39pm - If Kamala had been in power, that would be completely different.
Seems like they have serious regrets. Trump said he could stop the war in 24 hours and people believed that.
Now they can see that he was lying and a total failure.
So you can see another reason why Trump is failing at a peace deal.
Again, he is flattering Trump.
TaiwanIsNotChina
You see, people that study history know that they still consider themselves the enemy of the west. And better a reset button than gift boxes galore. Also Ukraine, the largest country in free Europe, is not insignificant.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Has he said he will recognize russian ill gotten gains? Well there you go.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Doesn't matter, russia controlling our allies' rivers is bad enough.
Probably an undercount.
So you admit that Americans did not vote for surrender abroad!