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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Alex Croft,James C. Reynolds,Tara Cobham and Shweta Sharma

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv, Moscow and US set to open trilateral peace talks in UAE for first time

Ukraine, Russia and the US will hold their first trilateral peace talks in the UAE on Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky has announced, after launching a scathing attack on world leaders over a lack of support for Kyiv.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, the Ukrainian president said the meetings will be on the “technical level”, adding that “Russians have to be ready for compromises, not just Ukraine”.

His announcement came after he declared that Ukraine is “living in Groundhog Day”, as he made some of his most critical comments so far about Kyiv’s allies, telling delegates that Europe “loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action”.

Zelensky’s clear frustration was a stark contrast to the assessment of the war offered earlier by Donald Trump, who claimed that a deal to end the conflict was “close”. The US president said the pair held a “good” meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Thursday, but it was not clear whether the talks had failed to yield progress on key issues, such as territory.

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is travelling to Moscow on Thursday to meet the Russian president Vladimir Putin and discuss an end to the war in Ukraine.

Key Points

  • Ukraine, Russia and US to hold first trilateral meeting in UAE on Friday, Zelensky says
  • Zelensky says ‘we're in Groundhog Day’ in attack on leaders over lack of support
  • Trump says peace deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine is 'close'
  • Witkoff and Kushner to have talks with Putin in Moscow
  • UK supported French operation to board Russian tanker near Gibraltar, Healey says

Putin says resolving territory dispute is the key issue

04:15 , Shweta Sharma

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov says Putin has underlined that Russia was "sincerely interested" in a diplomatic solution.

But he stressed that there was no hope of achieving long-term settlement without resolving the territorial issue according to the formula agreed upon in Anchorage.

He added: "Until this is achieved, Russia will continue to consistently pursue the objectives of the special military operation. This is especially true on the battlefield, where the Russian armed forces hold the strategic initiative."

Ukraine offers valuable wartime combat data to allies

04:00 , Tara Cobham

Ukraine is poised to establish a system enabling its allies to train their artificial intelligence models using Kyiv's invaluable combat data, meticulously gathered throughout the nearly four-year conflict with Russia.

This significant development was announced by the newly appointed Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.

Mr Fedorov, who recently transitioned from his role as digitalisation minister to spearhead reforms across Ukraine's vast defence ministry and armed forces, has described Kyiv's wartime data trove as a crucial "card" in its ongoing negotiations with other nations.

Read more here:

Ukraine offers valuable wartime combat data to allies

Putin holds four-hour late-night meeting with US envoys

03:30 , Shweta Sharma

Ahead of three-way security talks in Abu Dhabi, Vladimir Putin and three US envoys held a meeting that began shortly before midnight and lasted nearly four hours.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters the talks had been useful and extremely frank.

However, it ended without any breakthrough.

Russian President Putin hosts U.S. envoys for talks in Moscow (via REUTERS)

He said Russian Admiral Igor Kostyukov would head Moscow's team at the three-way security talks, and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev would meet separately on economic issues with Steve Witkoff, the envoy of President Donald Trump.

But while outlining the next steps, Ushakov stopped short of hailing any major breakthrough.

"Most importantly, during these talks between our president and the Americans, it was reiterated that without resolving the territorial issue according to the formula agreed upon in Anchorage, there is no hope of achieving a long-term settlement," he said, referring to last year's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

Ushakov said Putin underlined that Russia was "sincerely interested" in a diplomatic solution.

He added, however: "Until this is achieved, Russia will continue to consistently pursue the objectives of the special military operation. This is especially true on the battlefield, where the Russian armed forces hold the strategic initiative."

Putin, Ushakov and Dmitriev took part in the talks on the Russian side.

On the US side, Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who last met Putin in the Kremlin in early December, were accompanied by Josh Gruenbaum, newly appointed by Trump as a senior adviser to his Board of Peace, which will seek to tackle world conflicts.

'Europe looks lost,' Zelensky says in scathing attack

03:00 , Tara Cobham

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised his European allies for what he portrayed as the continent's slow and inadequate response to Russia's invasion nearly four years ago and its continued international aggression.

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Zelensky listed a litany of grievances and criticisms of Europe that he said have left Ukraine at the mercy of Russian President Vladimir Putin amid an ongoing US push for a peace settlement.

"Europe looks lost," Mr Zelenskyy said in his speech, urging the continent to become a global force. He contrasted Europe's response with Washington's bold steps in Venezuela and Iran.

The former comic actor referred to the movie Groundhog Day, in which the main character must relive the same day over and over again.

"Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words: Europe needs to know how to defend itself. A year has passed. And nothing has changed. We are still in a situation where I must say the same words again," Mr Zelensky said.

He said that Ukrainians too seem caught in that reality in the war, "repeating the same thing for weeks, months and, of course, for years. And yet that is exactly how we live now. It's our life."

Watch: Trump says Zelensky and Putin are 'stupid' if peace deal not agreed

02:00 , Tara Cobham

Finnish president dismantles the idea Russia is winning war in Ukraine: ‘Utter strategic failure’

01:00 , Tara Cobham

Finnish president Alexander Stubb has branded Russia’s war in Ukraine a “complete strategic failure for Vladimir Putin” in a scathing attack on the Russian leader.

Speaking at a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Stubb said Putin’s war in Ukraine has only served to strengthen European integration, unity and defence investment.

“This war has become a complete strategic failure for Vladimir Putin,” Mr Stubb said. “He expanded Nato, he made Ukraine European, and he forced European states to increase their defence budgets. And now we are asking ourselves whether we are capable of defending ourselves. My answer is yes.”

Alex Croft reports:

Finnish president dismisses idea Russia is winning in Ukraine: ‘Strategic failure’

One major issue still to be resolved in peace talks, Witkoff says

00:00 , Tara Cobham

The Trump administration is pushing for a peace settlement, with its envoys shuttling between Kyiv and Moscow. Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow late on Thursday and sat down for more talks with Mr Putin, the Kremlin said.

One major issue remains to be resolved in negotiations, Mr Witkoff said at Davos, without saying what it was. Mr Zelensky said the future status of Ukrainian land currently occupied by Russia is unresolved but that peace proposals are "nearly ready".

Post-war security guarantees, should a deal be reached, are agreed between the US and Ukraine, although they would require each country's ratification, he said.

Mr Zelensky said there would be two days of trilateral meetings involving the US, Ukraine and Russia due to begin in the United Arab Emirates on Friday.

"Russians have to be ready for compromises because, you know, everybody has to be ready, not only Ukraine, and this is important for us," he said

Trump claims Putin will 'make concessions' and says Ukraine war 'doesn't affect us very much'

Thursday 22 January 2026 23:50 , Josh Marcus

President Trump on Thursday gave a window into his ongoing thinking about efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the president claimed Vladimir Putin will “make concessions” to speed along the peace process, which will unfold at a trilateral meeting involving the U.S. in the United Arab Emirates this weekend and Trump official Steve Witkoff meeting with the Russian leader in Moscow.

“He'll make concessions,” Trump said of Putin. “Everybody's making concessions to get it done. Europe is going to be a part of it...Look, it's more for Europe than for me.”

The president added that he wants to stop the loss of innocent lives but doesn’t think the war in Ukraine impacts the U.S. very much.

“It doesn't affect us very much, other than the loss of lives, we're not affected by this,” Trump said. “It's thousands of miles away. We're separated by an ocean. But I have an ability to get things done like this, and we'll see if I can get it done.”

The Republican added that Putin may want all of Ukraine’s territory, but “he’s not gonna be going there unless we don’t make a deal.”

Trump says Putin and Zelensky want to make a deal to end the war

Thursday 22 January 2026 23:00 , Tara Cobham

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have said they would like to make a deal to end the nearly four-year-old war.

Earlier in the day, Trump met Zelensky on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and US President Donald Trump shaking hands during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on Thursday (AFP/Getty)

Russian forces 'hit two localities in southeast Ukraine, killing one'

Thursday 22 January 2026 22:56 , Tara Cobham

Russian forces launched attacks on two localities in southeastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing one person and injuring more than 20, local officials said.

The governor of Zaporizhzhia region said in a Telegram post that Russian forces launched four strikes on the town of Komyshuvakha, killing one person and injuring 10. Several private homes were damaged in the attack on the town, east of the region's main city, also called Zaporizhzhia.

In the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's home town in Dnipropetrovsk region, a combined drone and missile attack injured 13 people, including four children, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's military administration, said on Telegram.

The attacks hit apartment buildings, schools and critical infrastructure.

"The main thing is everyone is alive," Vilkul wrote. "Six people are in hospital, including three children."

It could not be independently confirmed the attacks had taken place and Russian officials made no comment.

Russian strategic bombers conduct patrol over Baltic Sea, defence ministry says

Thursday 22 January 2026 22:10 , Tara Cobham

Russian Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber planes carried out a scheduled patrol over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, the defence ministry reported via its Telegram channel.

The bombers were accompanied by Sukhoi Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets, the ministry said.

Russia regularly conducts such patrols as a show of strength. The announcement was made minutes after president Vladimir Putin began a meeting with three US envoys in the Kremlin to discuss proposals for ending the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky chides Europe for failing to stop Russia's 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers

Thursday 22 January 2026 21:50 , Tara Cobham

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has chided Europe for being slow to act on key decisions, spending too little on defence, failing to stop Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers that are breaking international sanctions, and balking at using its frozen assets in Europe to finance Ukraine, among other things.

Europe, he said, "still feels more like a geography, history, a tradition, not a real political force, not a great power."

"Some Europeans are really strong, it's true, but many say we must stand strong, and they always want someone else to tell them how long they need to stand strong, preferably until the next election," he said.

The Trump administration is pushing for a peace settlement, with its envoys shuttling between Kyiv and Moscow in a flurry of negotiations that some worry could force Ukraine into an unfavorable deal.

The French Navy boarded ‘an oil tanker from Russia’ in the Mediterranean Sea, suspected of belonging to the ‘ghost fleet’ financing ‘the war of aggression against Ukraine’, the French President announced on Thursday (French Defense Staff)

Watch: Zelensky says ‘we are living in Groundhog Day’ in scathing attack on world leaders over lack of support

Thursday 22 January 2026 21:30 , Tara Cobham

Putin meets Witkoff and Kushner for late-night talks on Ukraine, Kremlin says

Thursday 22 January 2026 21:10 , Tara Cobham

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a meeting with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner late on Thursday to discuss a plan to end the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.

Putin was meeting the two Americans shortly before midnight in Moscow after US President Donald Trump said a deal was "reasonably close" and Witkoff said negotiations had come down to one last issue.

US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner (Sputnik)

Zelensky says Ukraine clinched accords on new air defence package in Davos

Thursday 22 January 2026 20:50 , Tara Cobham

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukraine had clinched agreements on a new air defence package during meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"We are returning home with agreements on a new package of critically needed air defence for the protectionof our people," Zelensky wrote in English on the X social media platform.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukraine had clinched agreements on a new air defence package during meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos (AP)

Ukrainian negotiators heading to UAE for talks with Russia and US, Zelensky says

Thursday 22 January 2026 20:35 , Tara Cobham

Ukrainian negotiators are en route to the United Arab Emirates for talks with Russian and US negotiating teams, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.

"Our team is now heading to the Emirates for meetings with both the American and Russian sides," Zelensky wrote on Telegram after a day of talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "We are waiting to see how it goes and will decide on the next steps."

Zelensky had earlier said that negotiators from the three sides would hold meetings in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday.

Ukraine's energy system has most difficult day since late 2022, minister says

Thursday 22 January 2026 20:18 , Tara Cobham

Ukraine's energy system on Thursday endured its most difficult day since a widespread blackout hit the network in November 2022 and the situation remains "extremely difficult," energy minister Denys Shmyhal said.

Shmyhal, who is also first deputy prime minister, said the difficulties were caused by a series of factors – constant shelling as well as damage to generating equipment and transformers. Conditions were most difficult in Kyiv and the surrounding region and in southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region. "Today in Ukraine was the most difficult day for the power system since the blackout of November 2022," he wrote. "The situation is extremely difficult."

Full story: French navy intercepts Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in the Mediterranean

Thursday 22 January 2026 20:00 , Tara Cobham

The French navy has intercepted one of Russia’s sanctioned “shadow fleet” oil tankers in the Mediterranean with help from Britain.

Emmanuel Macron revealed that French forces had boarded a vessel this morning with allied support. The ship was subject to international sanctions and suspected of operating under a false flag, he said.

“We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,” the French president wrote on social media. “The activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.”

James C. Reynolds reports:

French navy intercepts Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in the Mediterranean

US envoys Witkoff and Kushner arrive in Moscow for talks with Putin on Ukraine, flight tracking site says

Thursday 22 January 2026 19:45 , Tara Cobham

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Thursday evening for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a peace deal for Ukraine, according to a track of their plane on air traffic site Flightradar24.

The two Americans flew in from Switzerland, where they met Ukrainian officials this week and President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Davos on Thursday.

Starmer and Frederiksen discuss next steps for Coalition of the Willing

Thursday 22 January 2026 19:28 , Tara Cobham

British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen discussed next steps for the Coalition of the Willing during a meeting at Chequers this afternoon.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister hosted the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, at Chequers this afternoon.

"The leaders began by reflecting on recent developments. They agreed that security in the Arctic was a matter for the entire Nato alliance, and Europe and Nato would continue to drive forward progress.

"The leaders also discussed how the UK and Denmark could deepen broader security cooperation, both bilaterally and across Europe, including through increasing interoperability between militaries.

"On Ukraine, the prime minister condemned Russia's vicious attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and the leaders discussed next steps for the Coalition of the Willing.”

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers (PA Wire)

Keep focus on Ukraine, EU's top diplomat urges

Thursday 22 January 2026 19:10 , Tara Cobham

The EU’s top diplomat has urged world powers to keep focus on Ukraine.

Kaja Kallas said: “It’s important to focus back on where the problems are, like Ukraine.”

Starmer says he has concerns about Putin being on Board of Peace

Thursday 22 January 2026 18:51 , Tara Cobham

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday he "obviously" had concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin being on US President Donald Trump's proposed "Board of Peace."

Trump said on Wednesday that Putin had accepted his invitation to join the initiative but the Russian leader said the invitation was only under consideration.

"I obviously have concerns about Putin being on a Board of Peace," Starmer said in an interview with Channel 4 News. "He is waging war on a European country. They're raining down bombs on Ukraine."

"We mustn't let the events of the last week or so deflect from the focus. We need to work with the Americans. It's going to be allies and others to defend and support Ukraine in a conflict which is not of their making."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday he ‘obviously’ had concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin being on US President Donald Trump's proposed ‘Board of Peace’ (PA Wire)

Full story: Zelensky tears into Europe over Russia and Trump in scathing Davos speech

Thursday 22 January 2026 18:30 , Tara Cobham

Volodymyr Zelensky has launched a scathing attack on European leaders over their support for Ukraine during an astonishing speech to world leaders at Davos.

Taking to the stage shortly after a meeting with Donald Trump, the Ukrainian president declared Kyiv was living in “Groundhog Day”, adding that Europe “loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action” against Russia.

He added: “Every forum like this one proves it. Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words Europe needs to know how to defend itself. A year has passed, and nothing has changed.”

Alex Croft reports:

Zelensky turns on Europe over Russia and Trump: you’re all talk and no action

UK supported French operation to board Russian tanker near Gibraltar, Healey says

Thursday 22 January 2026 18:08 , Tara Cobham

British defence minister John Healey said on Thursday Britain had provided tracking and monitoring support for a French operation to board a Russian tanker.

Healey added that this support included a vessel, HMS Dagger, monitoring the tanker as it passed through the Straits of Gibraltar.

US will follow up on Ukraine security guarantees if they are agreed, Dutch PM says

Thursday 22 January 2026 18:00 , Tara Cobham

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said on Thursday he was convinced the United States would follow up on security guarantees for Ukraine if these were agreed in a possible peace deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed security guarantees and a plan for post-war recovery during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Davos earlier in the day.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof attending a news conference last month (AP)

EU should be united and protect relations with US, Polish PM says

Thursday 22 January 2026 17:45 , Tara Cobham

Poland hopes European Union countries will act together on Greenland, US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" and Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said before an emergency summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday.

"For us, the United States is absolutely the most important partner when it comes to our security," he said, adding that Europe needs to protect its relations with the US.

Analysis: Zelensky shakes Europe by the scruff and reminds world leaders just how little they have done

Thursday 22 January 2026 17:30 , Tara Cobham

Aman fighting for the life of his country against an invader should be forgiven the passion and colour of his language when calling for help from his friends.

Volodymyr Zelensky’s stinging rhetoric was very much his own at Davos when he called Europe a “salad”.

“Dear friends, we should not degrade ourselves to secondary roles, not when we have a chance to be a great power together. We should not accept that Europe is just a salad of small and middle powers, seasoned with enemies of Europe,” the Ukrainian president thundered.

World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:

Zelensky shakes Europe by the scruff in emotional speech ringing with home truths

EU must not lose focus on war in Ukraine, Irish PM says

Thursday 22 January 2026 17:15 , Tara Cobham

The European Union should not lose focus on the war in Ukraine amid threats from US President Donald Trump to acquire Greenland, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said ahead of an emergency EU leaders summit held in Brussels on Thursday.

Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin standing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as he arrived for an Irish state visit last month (REUTERS)

Witkoff and Kushner to have talks with Putin in Moscow

Thursday 22 January 2026 17:01 , Tara Cobham

US envoy for Ukraine Steve Witkoff was due in Moscow later on Thursday with fellow US envoy Jared Kushner - Donald Trump's son-in-law - for talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin on the possible plan to end Europe's deadliest war since World War Two.

After those discussions, negotiators would head directly to Abu Dhabi, Witkoff said on Thursday, "where there will be military-to-military talks and discussion of the prosperity package".

Russia has been cool on the US-led peace push, demanding that Kyiv give up part of its eastern Donetsk region which Moscow has been unable to conquer despite grinding forward on the battlefield.

Putin said late on Wednesday that they would discuss a settlement on Ukraine and the possibility of using frozen Russian assets for reconstruction of Moscow-occupied land, as well as Trump's proposal for a Board of Peace, tasked with promoting peace around the world.

Critics of the proposal have said it would rival or undermine the United Nations.

The Kremlin said Putin's meeting with Witkoff and Kushner will take place after 7pm Moscow time (4pm GMT).

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (AP)

France has not informed Russia about interception of tanker, TASS reports

Thursday 22 January 2026 16:43 , Tara Cobham

Paris has not notified the Russian embassy in France about the interception of a tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, Russian news agency TASS reported on Thursday, citing the embassy.

"At the moment, together with diplomats from the Consulate General in Marseille, we are trying to find out whether there are any Russian citizens among the crew members in order to provide the necessary assistance," the embassy said.

Zelensky says territorial issues not yet resolved in war in Ukraine

Thursday 22 January 2026 16:29 , Tara Cobham

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that a document outlining US security guarantees for Ukraine was complete but that territorial issues had not yet been resolved in the war against Russia's invading forces.

Speaking to reporters in at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said both Russia and Ukraine should make compromises in the peace process, and that an upcoming trilateral meeting of top officials was a "positive" step.

"We speak about one issue, which is the most difficult which has been not solved, and I think trilateral meetings will show each variant," Zelensky said.

Finnish president Stubb says Trump is putting pressure on Russia

Thursday 22 January 2026 16:14 , Tara Cobham

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump was putting pressure on Russia over the war in Ukraine and that he hoped he would continue to do so.

"I think President Trump is putting a lot of pressure on Russia, and I hope he continues to do that," Stubb told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos.

US President Donald Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb meeting in the Oval Office at the White House last year (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Zelensky welcomes France intercepting sanctioned Russian tanker

Thursday 22 January 2026 16:01 , Tara Cobham

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday welcomed the French navy intercepting a sanctioned Russian tanker in the Mediterranean, saying such action was "exactly the kind of resolve needed" to stop Russian oil revenues from financing war in Ukraine.

"Vessels must be apprehended. And wouldn‘t it be fair to confiscate and sell the oil carried by these tankers?" he said on X.

Zelensky discussed Ukraine's security guarantees and post-war recovery with Trump

Thursday 22 January 2026 15:54 , Tara Cobham

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed security guarantees and a plan for post-war recovery during his meeting with President Donald Trump in Davos.

Zelensky also said the two talked about the sequence of how to bring ongoing talks on ending the war to "real negotiations".

French navy intercepts Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in the Mediterranean

Thursday 22 January 2026 15:46 , Alex Croft

The French navy has intercepted one of Russia’s sanctioned “shadow fleet” oil tankers in the Mediterranean, according to Emmanuel Macron.

The French president revealed that his armed forces had boarded a vessel this morning with the support of several allies.

The ship was subject to international sanctions and suspected of operating under a false flag, he said.

“We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,” he said. “The activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.”

James Reynolds reports:

French navy intercepts Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in the Mediterranean

Zelensky says ‘we are living in Groundhog Day’ in scathing attack on world leaders over lack of support

Thursday 22 January 2026 15:45 , Alex Croft

Around 3,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv still without heat

Thursday 22 January 2026 15:07 , Alex Croft

As high-level diplomatic meetings continued on Thursday - including between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, and scheduled talks between Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff - the situation in Ukraine remains dire.

Around 3,000 apartment buildings were still without heating in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv following a Russian air attack this week, mayor Vitali Klitschko said this morning.

Sustained Russian airstrikes on energy infrastructure in 2026 have left swathes of the capital and other regions without power.

Klitschko added that 270 buildings were re-connected to the supply overnight.

(AFP/Getty)

It is important to have dialogue with Russia, says Zelensky

Thursday 22 January 2026 14:48 , Alex Croft

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that it is better to have direct dialogue with Russia than to have none at all.

“It’s better than to not have any dialogue,” he says.

“We are under attack, people live without electricity, we are in a difficult situation,

He added that “Russia is also in a difficult situation, we are answering their attacks”.

“God bless, the war will stop,” he concluded with a smile, to a round of applause from delegates in Davos.

(REUTERS)

Ukraine, Russia and US to hold first trilateral meeting this week, says Zelensky

Thursday 22 January 2026 14:38 , Alex Croft

Volodymyr Zelensky has just revealed that delegations from the US, Russia and Ukraine will all meet in the United Arab Emirates this weekend.

It would be the first trilateral meeting between the three countries to end the ongoing war, he says. Previous talks between Moscow and Kyiv delegations last year were mediated by Turkey.

The meetings will take place on Friday and Saturday, Zelensky adds.

“I think this is good, on the technical level we will begin these trilateral meetings. Russians have to be ready for compromises, everybody has to be ready, not just Ukraine,” he says.

“We will see what the result will be.”

Zelensky's closing remarks: We need action to end this Groundhog Day

Thursday 22 January 2026 14:33 , Alex Croft

Volodymyr Zelensky’s scathing speech has now come to a close, and he is given a rapturous standing ovation from delegates.

Here is how he closed out the speech:

Many people believe that somehow things will work out on their own. But we cannot rely on ‘somehow’. For real security, faith is not enough. No intellectual discussions are capable of stopping wars.

We need action. World order comes from action. And we need the courage to act. Without action now, there is now tomorrow. Let’s end this Groundhog Day.

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