Vladimir Putin ordered a “brutal” attack on Kyiv that has left millions without power as trilateral peace talks were underway in Abu Dhabi, according to Ukrainian officials.
The two-day negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the US, marked the first such talks since the war erupted in February 2022, but they drew to a close on Saturday with no significant breakthroughs made. The Donbas region, including the largely Russian-occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions, remain a sticking point for both countries.
The second day of talks came as dozens of people were injured in Kyiv and Kharkiv, with at least one person dead in the capital, after Russia launched a major missile and drone attack, according to Ukrainian officials.
“Cynically, Putin ordered a brutal massive missile strike against Ukraine right while delegations are meeting in Abu Dhabi to advance the America-led peace process,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. “His missiles hit not only our people, but also the negotiation table.”
The attack on Ukraine’s energy system also left 1.2 million properties without power countrywide on Saturday, with temperatures in Kyiv hovering around -10C.
Key Points
- Zelensky calls UAE talks 'constructive' with further meetings possible next week
- Next round of trilateral peace talks 'set for next weekend in Abu Dhabi'
- Russia's air attack on Ukraine knocks out power for millions
- Russian attack on Ukraine described as 'cynical' amid peace talks
- Two of Ukraine's largest cities targeted in attack
In pictures: Zelensky meets with Lithuania leader
11:30 , Bryony Gooch
Zelensky meets Lithuania leader to discuss ways to support Ukraine energy amid Russia's attacks
11:00 , Bryony GoochVolodymyr Zelensky met with Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nauseda as they discussed ways to support Ukraine’s energy system against Russia’s daily infrastructural attacks.
He said on social media: “I informed Gitanas about this and also about Ukraine’s needs to strengthen energy resilience and air defense. Thank you for the support – Lithuania has already taken a decision to help Ukrainian cities and communities by transferring almost one hundred generators.
“We also discussed military cooperation, joint defense projects and Lithuania’s proposal to launch a weapons export platform in Vilnius, support for the PURL initiative, and cooperation within the SAFE instrument. Diplomacy was also among the most important issues on the agenda.
“I shared the latest details of diplomatic efforts toward peace, including the meetings in Abu Dhabi involving the Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations. Ukraine, as always, is doing everything possible on its part to bring the war to an end.”
During the meeting with President @GitanasNauseda, we discussed, first and foremost, support for Ukraine’s energy system. Russia attacks our energy sector every day. I informed Gitanas about this and also about Ukraine’s needs to strengthen energy resilience and air defense.… pic.twitter.com/bkvsYhwUyP
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 25, 2026
Ukraine coordinating with Lithuania and Poland to understand Russian threat
10:30 , Bryony GoochVolodymyr Zelensky has said today Ukrainian officials are in Vilnius, working in partnership with Poland and Lithuania.
He said: “Today in Vilnius, we are coordinating with our partners in the region – Lithuania and Poland. We are working with every leader to strengthen Ukraine.
“Everyone must clearly understand the threat coming from Russia, and it is our nations who understand this best. I thank everyone who is helping us stand strong.”
Russia’s main targets right now are our energy sector, critical infrastructure, and residential buildings. This week alone, the Russians have launched more than 1,700 attack drones, over 1,380 guided aerial bombs, and 69 missiles of various types. Every massive attack by Russia… pic.twitter.com/eHDCheyw4D
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 25, 2026
Watch: Trump Confronted 'You've Failed To Bring Peace To Ukraine!'
10:00 , Bryony GoochRussia launched over three thousand drones and missiles this week
09:30 , Bryony GoochRussia have launched more than 1,700 attack drones, over 1,380 guided aerial bombs, and 69 missiles of various types in this week alone, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
He added: “Every massive attack by Russia can become devastating. That is why missiles for air defense systems are needed every day, and we continue working with the United States and Europe to ensure stronger protection of our skies.”
Recap: Russia claims Ukraine launches 'major attack' on Belgorod town
09:00 , Bryony GoochThe governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had launched a "massive" attack on the region's main town, damaging energy infrastructure, but causing no casualties.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, writing on Telegram, described the incident as "the most massive shelling of the town of Belgorod".
"Energy sites have been damaged. A building has been set on fire and a crew from the Emergencies Ministry is tackling the blaze," Gladkov said. "Fragments from a downed drone triggered a fire in a courtyard."
Russia’s ruthless energy grid attacks on Ukraine are rooted in history
08:40 , Bryony Gooch
Russia’s attacks have devastated Ukraine’s energy grid – and history explains why
Recap: What happened in day two of Abu Dhabi talks?
08:20 , Bryony GoochTwo days of talks involving representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the United States wrapped up Saturday with "constructive" discussions on "possible parameters" for ending the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Negotiators will return to the United Arab Emirates for the next round on Sunday next week, according to a US official who described the meetings as upbeat and positive.
The talks are the first known instance that officials from the Trump administration have sat down with both countries as part of Washington's push for progress to end Moscow's nearly 4-year-old invasion."
All parties agreed to report to their capitals on each aspect of the negotiations and to coordinate further steps with their leaders," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. The meetings covered a broad range of military and economic matters and included the possibility of a ceasefire before a deal, said the official. There was not yet an agreement on a final framework for oversight and operation of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russia and is the largest in Europe.
The power generated from the plant will be shared "on an equitable basis," according to the official, but control of it was still undecided.
Zelensky, meanwhile, said there was "an understanding of the need for American monitoring and control of the process of ending the war and ensuring real security."
Around 1,700 Kyiv apartment blocks still without heating after Russian strike
07:54 , Arpan RaiAround 1,700 apartment buildings in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv were still without heating following a Russian missile and drone attack earlier this week, Kyiv mayor Vitalii Klitschko said on Sunday.
Russia launched a vast attack on Ukraine's energy system on Saturday, rocking Kyiv with explosions overnight, leaving 1.2 million properties without power countrywide during sub-zero winter temperatures.
"Since yesterday evening, utility workers and energy companies have restored heat supply to more than 1,600 buildings. They are continuing to work to restore services to the homes of Kyiv residents," Klitschko said on his Telegram channel.
The large-scale attack on the Ukrainian capital took place just as Ukrainian, Russian and American negotiators were discussing options in Abu Dhabi for ending the war.
Moscow has sharply intensified bombardments of Ukraine’s energy system since it invaded its neighbour in 2022.
Deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on Saturday that more than 3,200 of Kyiv's buildings were without heating late that evening, down from 6,000 in the morning.
Zelensky says trilateral talks ended constructively and more are possible next week
07:30 , Arpan RaiTwo days of talks involving representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the United States wrapped up yesterday with "constructive" discussions on "possible parameters" for ending the war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Negotiators will return to the United Arab Emirates for the next round on 1 February, according to a US official who described the meetings as upbeat and positive.
The talks are the first known instance that officials from the Trump administration have sat down with both countries as part of Washington's push for progress to end Moscow's nearly 4-year-old invasion.
"All parties agreed to report to their capitals on each aspect of the negotiations and to coordinate further steps with their leaders," Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
The meetings covered a broad range of military and economic matters and included the possibility of a ceasefire before a deal, said the official. There was not yet an agreement on a final framework for oversight and operation of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russia and is the largest in Europe.
The power generated from the plant will be shared "on an equitable basis," according to the official, but control of it was still undecided.
Zelensky, meanwhile, said there was "an understanding of the need for American monitoring and control of the process of ending the war and ensuring real security."
Ukrainian forces launch 'massive' attack on Russia's Belgorod, says governor
07:00 , Arpan RaiThe governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had launched a "massive" attack on the region's main town, damaging energy infrastructure, but causing no casualties.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described the incident as "the most massive shelling of the town of Belgorod".
"Energy sites have been damaged. A building has been set on fire and a crew from the Emergencies Ministry is tackling the blaze," Gladkov said. "Fragments from a downed drone triggered a fire in a courtyard."
A downed drone had also damaged homes in a nearby village.
Ukrainian forces have attacked the town of Belgorod and the region around it regularly since Russia invaded its smaller neighbour in February 2022.
Unofficial Telegram channels from the region said the shelling had gone on for some time on Saturday evening, with a series of explosions sounding in the town.
Russia’s attacks have devastated Ukraine’s energy grid – and history explains why
06:15 , Arpan RaiIn the middle of Ukraine’s fiercest winter of the war, many Ukrainians are unable to prepare hot meals or are unable to heat their homes while temperatures have dipped as low as -20C in the past few weeks. Harsher weather is forecast.
Russia has once again targeted Ukraine with sustained attacks on power stations, energy grids and heating nodes affecting electricity, as well as heating systems and water pumps.
Following the Russian strikes on January 20, around 5,600 apartment buildings in Kyiv were left without heating and almost half of Kyiv was believed to be without heat and power, affecting around one million people. The situation is so dire that the city has set up “heating tents” to help people stay warm in the freezing temperatures. Other cities have also been attacked.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky declared the situation an energy emergency.
Russia’s attacks have devastated Ukraine’s energy grid – and history explains why
Russia’s attacks have devastated Ukraine’s energy grid – and history explains why
06:00 , Tara CobhamIn the middle of Ukraine’s fiercest winter of the war, many Ukrainians are unable to prepare hot meals or are unable to heat their homes while temperatures have dipped as low as -20C in the past few weeks. Harsher weather is forecast.
Russia has once again targeted Ukraine with sustained attacks on power stations, energy grids and heating nodes affecting electricity, as well as heating systems and water pumps.
Following the Russian strikes on January 20, around 5,600 apartment buildings in Kyiv were left without heating and almost half of Kyiv was believed to be without heat and power, affecting around one million people. The situation is so dire that the city has set up “heating tents” to help people stay warm in the freezing temperatures. Other cities have also been attacked.
Read more here:
Russia’s attacks have devastated Ukraine’s energy grid – and history explains why
Orban claims Kyiv issuing threats ahead of Hungarian elections
05:35 , Arpan RaiHungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has accused Ukraine of meddling in his country’s parliamentary elections, claiming that Kyiv was “issuing threats and openly interfering” in the elections.
Orban, seen as a close ally of Moscow, is facing his biggest electoral challenge since taking office in 2010. He has dialled up his anti-Ukraine position in the run up to elections in April.
In a post on X, the populist-right prime minister said: “The Ukrainians have gone on the offensive. They're issuing threats and openly interfering in the Hungarian elections. Their goal is to secure funds and force their way into the European Union as soon as possible. As a member of the European Union, Hungary has the right to say no. Our patriotic government clearly says no.”
Orban said his government’s stance is to protect Hungarian households and national security, saying Budapest does not want taxpayer money sent to Ukraine or for Hungary to be pulled into the war.
“We must show that Hungarians cannot be threatened or intimidated. We are not built that way. Alongside Brussels, we send a clear message to Kyiv as well: we will not pay!”
The Ukrainians have gone on the offensive. They're issuing threats and openly interfering in the Hungarian elections. Their goal is to secure funds and force their way into the European Union as soon as possible.
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) January 24, 2026
As a member of the European Union, Hungary has the right to say… pic.twitter.com/MzRgNiUe6X
Ukraine says Putin not ready for peace after ‘barbaric’ overnight attack
05:00 , Tara CobhamUkrainian officials stated Vladimir Putin is not ready for peace following a "barbaric" missile and drone strike on Kyiv and Kharkiv.
The overnight attacks injured dozens and killed at least one person in the capital, occurring just before the second day of three-way peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strike, asserting that Putin's actions prove he belongs at a special tribunal, not at peace talks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasised that Russia must be prepared to end the war it initiated during the landmark peace discussions.
The Donbas region, including the Russian-occupied Donetsk and Luhansk areas, remains a significant point of contention in the conflict.
Starmer and Trump discuss Ukraine and need for enhanced security in Arctic
04:45 , Arpan RaiBritish prime minister Keir Starmer spoke with US president Donald Trump by telephone on Saturday as the two leaders discussed ceasefire progress in Ukraine and the need for bolstered security in the Arctic, 10 Downing Street said in a statement.
Starmer referred to the subject of security in Arctic as an absolute priority for his government, the statement said.
The leaders agreed on the need to see progress towards a sustainable ceasefire in the Ukraine-Russia war, with the prime minister reiterating that international partners must continue to support Ukraine in its defence against Putin's "barbaric attacks".
US says next round of Russia-Ukraine talks on Sunday in Abu Dhabi
04:20 , Arpan RaiThe next round of US-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place next Sunday in Abu Dhabi, a US official said on Saturday, hailing progress over the last two days of discussions even though they ended on Saturday without a deal.
"We saw a lot of respect in the room between the parties because they were really looking to find solutions," the official told reporters after the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"We got to real granular detail and that next Sunday will be, God willing, another meeting where we push this deal towards its final culmination."
Watch: Starmer condemns Trump’s “appalling” remarks about British troops
03:40 , Arpan RaiUkrainian forces launch 'massive' attack on Russia's Belgorod, says governor
03:25 , Arpan RaiThe governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had launched a "massive" attack on the region's main town, damaging energy infrastructure, but causing no casualties.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described the incident as "the most massive shelling of the town of Belgorod".
"Energy sites have been damaged. A building has been set on fire and a crew from the Emergencies Ministry is tackling the blaze," Gladkov said. "Fragments from a downed drone triggered a fire in a courtyard."
A downed drone had also damaged homes in a nearby village.
Ukrainian forces have attacked the town of Belgorod and the region around it regularly since Russia invaded its smaller neighbour in February 2022.
Unofficial Telegram channels from the region said the shelling had gone on for some time on Saturday evening, with a series of explosions sounding in the town.
Ukraine denies Russia captured another village in the northeast
03:05 , Arpan RaiThe Russian defence ministry said its forces have completed the takeover of the village of Starytsya in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region.
Ukraine has rejected Russia’s claim.
The village is near the town of Vovchansk, close to the Ukraine-Russia border, where Russian forces launched an incursion in May 2024.
Moscow's troops have in recent months tried to extend gains in the area despite Ukrainian resistance.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military, in a report late on Saturday, said Russian forces had launched six attacks on an area including Starytsya. But it made no acknowledgement that the village had changed hands.
Ukraine's DeepState military blog, which uses open-source reports to track the positions of both armies, made no mention of the village in a report on Friday, but said Russian forces "are continuing their pressure in the Vovchansk area”.
The Russian defence ministry report said its troops had also carried out a massive strike overnight on Ukrainian long-range drone sites and energy facilities.
Zelensky says trilateral talks ended constructively and more are possible next week
02:53 , Arpan RaiTwo days of talks involving representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the United States wrapped up yesterday with "constructive" discussions on "possible parameters" for ending the war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Negotiators will return to the United Arab Emirates for the next round on 1 February, according to a US official who described the meetings as upbeat and positive.
The talks are the first known instance that officials from the Trump administration have sat down with both countries as part of Washington's push for progress to end Moscow's nearly 4-year-old invasion.
"All parties agreed to report to their capitals on each aspect of the negotiations and to coordinate further steps with their leaders," Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
The meetings covered a broad range of military and economic matters and included the possibility of a ceasefire before a deal, said the official. There was not yet an agreement on a final framework for oversight and operation of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russia and is the largest in Europe.
The power generated from the plant will be shared "on an equitable basis," according to the official, but control of it was still undecided.
Zelensky, meanwhile, said there was "an understanding of the need for American monitoring and control of the process of ending the war and ensuring real security."
Ukraine is example of centralised decision-making that is consistent theme of Trump's second term
02:00 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump's practice of centralising foreign policy decisions, relying on trusted aides and effectively sidelining experts, has been a consistent theme of his second term.
It happened several times during negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Most recently in the fall, a 28-point plan to end the war emerged from meetings between Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who heads the Russian Direct Investment Fund, one of Russia's largest sovereign wealth funds.
Many senior US officials inside the State Department and on the National Security Council, who would typically be in the know about the evolution of such a plan, were not briefed on the process, two people familiar with the plan said at the time.
Pictured: Resident leaves home after Russian strike
01:00 , Bryony Gooch
Recap: Russia launches almost 400 drones and missiles in overnight strike
00:00 , Bryony GoochRussia launched 375 drones and 21 missiles overnight, Ukraine's air force said, which once again targeted energy infrastructure, knocking out power and heat for large parts of Kyiv, the capital. At least one person was killed and over 30 injured.
Before Saturday's bombardment, Kyiv had already endured two mass overnight attacks since the New Year that cut electricity and heating to hundreds of residential buildings. Ukraine's deputy prime minister said on Saturday that 800,000 people in Kyiv - where temperatures were around -10C - had been left without power after the latest Russian assault.
Zelensky said on Saturday Russia's heavy overnight strikes showed that agreements on further air defence support made with Trump in Davos this week must be "fully implemented".
Recap: Donbas remains a key issue in negotiations
Saturday 24 January 2026 23:00 , Bryony GoochAfter Saturday's talks, Volodymyr Zelensky said the US delegation had raised the issue of "potential formats for formalising the parameters for ending the war, as well as the security conditions required to achieve this".
Ahead of the discussions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday Russia had not dropped its insistence on Ukraine yielding all of its eastern area of Donbas, the industrial heartland grouping the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Putin's demand that Ukraine surrender the 20 per cent it still holds of Donetsk - about 5,000 sq km (1,900 sq miles) - has proven a major stumbling block to any deal. Most countries recognise Donetsk as part of Ukraine. Putin says Donetsk is part of Russia's "historical lands".
Zelensky has ruled out giving up territory that Russia has not been able to capture in four years of grinding, attritional warfare against a much smaller foe. Polls show little appetite among Ukrainians for any territorial concessions.
Russia says it wants a diplomatic solution but will keep working to achieve its goals by military means as long as a negotiated solution remains elusive.
Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said late on Friday that the first day of talks had addressed parameters for ending the war and the "further logic of the negotiation process."
Governor of Russia's Belgorod region says Ukrainian forces staged 'massive' attack
Saturday 24 January 2026 22:22 , Tara CobhamThe governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had launched a "massive" attack on the region's main town, damaging energy infrastructure, but causing no casualties.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, writing on Telegram, described the incident as "the most massive shelling of the town of Belgorod".
"Energy sites have been damaged. A building has been set on fire and a crew from the emergencies ministry is tackling the blaze," Gladkov said. "Fragments from a downed drone triggered a fire in a courtyard."
A downed drone had also damaged homes in a nearby village.
Ukrainian forces have attacked the town of Belgorod and the region around it regularly since Russia invaded its smaller neighbour in February 2022.
Unofficial Telegram channels from the region said the shelling had gone on for some time on Saturday evening, with a series of explosions sounding in the town.
Trump releases new US National Defence Strategy - here's how it affects Russia and European security
Saturday 24 January 2026 22:00 , Bryony GoochAs the Trump administration shares its new US National Defence Strategy, here is how it’s changed since what was issued under Biden for Russia and European security:
2022: "The Department will maintain its bedrock commitment to NATO collective security, working alongside Allies and partners to deter, defend, and build resilience against further Russian military aggression and acute forms of gray zone coercion. As we continue contributing to NATO capabilities and readiness — including through improvements to our posture in Europe and our extended nuclear deterrence commitments — the Department will work with Allies bilaterally and through NATO's established processes to better focus NATO capability development and military modernization to address Russia's military threat."
2026: "Russia will remain a persistent but manageable threat to NATO's eastern members for the foreseeable future."
"European NATO dwarfs Russia in economic scale, population, and, thus, latent military power. At the same time, although Europe remains important, it has a smaller and decreasing share of global economic power. It follows that, although we are and will remain engaged in Europe, we must — and will — prioritize defending the U.S. Homeland and deterring China."
"Fortunately, our NATO allies are substantially more powerful than Russia — it is not even close. Germany's economy alone dwarfs that of Russia. At the same time, under President Trump's leadership, NATO allies have committed to raise defense spending to the new global standard of 5 per cent of GDP in total, with 3.5 per cent of GDP invested in hard military capabilities. Our NATO allies are therefore strongly positioned to take primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense, with critical but more limited U.S. support. This includes taking the lead in supporting Ukraine's defense."
Watch: Zelensky says he's not sure Putin wants to end war ‘in this situation’
Saturday 24 January 2026 21:00 , Bryony GoochFor Putin, Trump’s second term just keeps on getting better and better
Saturday 24 January 2026 20:00 , Bryony Gooch
For Putin, Trump’s second term just keeps on getting better and better
Starmer tells Trump: 'We must continue to support Ukraine against Putin's barbaric attacks'
Saturday 24 January 2026 19:00 , Tara CobhamSir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have discussed the war in Ukraine as it approaches its fourth anniversary.
During a phone call on Saturday afternoon, a Number 10 spokesperson said the prime minister “reiterated that international partners must continue to support Ukraine in its defence against Putin's barbaric attacks”.
'A lot of progress has been made,' White House official says after talks end
Saturday 24 January 2026 18:00 , Tara CobhamWhite House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
“A lot of progress has been made”, a senior official in the Trump administration has said after peace talks concluded.
They told reporters: “It was great seeing both sides interact with each other. The conversations were very respectful.
“They have not spoken to each other in person in a very long time. I don't know when the last time they did this was, but I think it gave both parties the ability to express some of their opinions, concerns, ideas. And the conversations were very fluid.
“And so I think getting everyone together was a big step. I think it's a confirmation of the fact that, number one, a lot of progress has been made to date in really defining the details needed to get to a conclusion. And number two, that both leaders are intrigued enough by the progress to send their teams out for these public meetings.”
Next round of trilateral peace talks 'set for next weekend in Abu Dhabi'
Saturday 24 January 2026 17:13 , Tara CobhamWhite House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
The next round of trilateral peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the US, is set to take place in the UAE next weekend, according to a White House official.
The senior official in the Trump administration told reporters: “We've agreed that the next round begins next Sunday in Abu Dhabi again.
"We got a lot of work done in the last two days, but everyone's eager to come right on back.
“So, then there's a lot of preparatory work before that next meeting that's going to occur, with regard to the land deal, lots of discussion happened over the last two days. And that's very important.
“So I don't want to get into the details of the different iterations of how that could occur, but there now is a willingness on both sides to talk about this, so we're encouraged by that."
Meeting between Putin and Zelensky is 'very close', Trump administration official says
Saturday 24 January 2026 17:09 , Tara CobhamWhite House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
A senior official in the Trump administration has said that a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky is “very close”.
When asked about when bilateral or trilateral talks between the two leaders might take place, they told reporters: “I would say we’re very close.”
White House official on peace talks: ‘We discussed de-escalation’
Saturday 24 January 2026 17:06 , Tara CobhamWhite House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
A senior official in the Trump administration has spoken about what was discussed during the trilateral peace talks after they drew to a close.
They told reporters: “There were extensive side conversations that were happening as well, in addition to the formal discussions.
“We discussed de-escalation. You know, what are the steps necessary for both sides to feel like, if this war has ended, it really won't happen again. We said that if President Trump is going to push for a deal, he wants it to be a deal that will last for a very, very long time. So we spoke about different ways to de-escalate and for both parties to show faith to each other that the war would really be over and that there's a paradigm that hopefully will exist that will not lead to it happening again in the future.”
Watch: Trump Confronted 'You've Failed To Bring Peace To Ukraine!'
Saturday 24 January 2026 16:00 , Bryony GoochZelensky says UAE talks were 'constructive', further meetings possible next week
Saturday 24 January 2026 15:30 , Bryony GoochUkraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States, which had concluded in the UAE, were "constructive" and that further meetings could take place next week.
Zelensky said military representatives had identified a list of issues for discussion at a potential future meeting.
The Independent View: Abandon your foolish Greenland fantasies, Mr President, and remember Ukraine
Saturday 24 January 2026 15:00 , Bryony Gooch
Abandon your foolish Greenland fantasies, Mr President, and remember Ukraine
Russia says it remains open to further dialogue with Ukraine after Abu Dhabi talks, RIA reports
Saturday 24 January 2026 14:40 , Bryony GoochThe Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday, commenting on the prospects of additional talks with Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul, said that Moscow remains open to a continuation of dialogue, the RIA state news agency reported.
Russia and Ukraine held a second day of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on Saturday seeking a resolution to the war.
UAE says talks between Russia and Ukraine focused on 'outstanding elements' of US proposed peace plan
Saturday 24 January 2026 14:20 , Bryony GoochA UAE government spokesperson said on Saturday that talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi focused on the "outstanding elements" of the US-proposed peace framework.
The spokesperson said the talks included "direct engagement" between officials from both countries and were held in a "constructive and positive atmosphere".
Recap: Kremlin says Putin is committed to settling war
Saturday 24 January 2026 14:00 , Bryony GoochPrior to talks in Abu Dhabi, US envoy Steve Witkoff went to Moscow with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner where they met Vladimir Putin who reportedly doubled down on a pledge to settle the war.
After a four-hour meeting, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said: "Vladimir Putin has emphasised Russia's sincere commitment to settling the Ukraine crisis by political and diplomatic means."
But he said "bringing about a lasting settlement would be unlikely without addressing the territorial issue based on the formula as agreed in Anchorage".
Day two of talks in Abu Dhabi have ended
Saturday 24 January 2026 13:30 , ReutersThe second day of US-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi has ended, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Saturday.
