Ukraine and Russia concluded a second day of US-led talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday without a breakthrough towards ending Europe’s most deadly conflict since the second world war. The two sides agreed to a reciprocal exchange of 157 prisoners of war each, offering a rare concrete outcome from the discussions. But Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy involved in the talks, cautioned that “significant work remains” in the weeks ahead, dampening expectations of any swift move towards peace. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, later said the peace talks would continue in the near future. Despite the more positive tone, the prospects for a viable peace settlement remain uncertain, with Moscow continuing to push maximalist territorial demands.

Source: The Guardian February 06, 2026 10:01 UTC