Senior Ukrainian and Russian officials are due to meet in Abu Dhabi for a second round of talks brokered by the Trump administration. The two-day talks are expected to mirror last month’s format, with negotiators from Washington, Kyiv and Moscow in attendance. The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that any peace deal must have Ukraine cede the entire eastern Donbas region, including areas still under Ukrainian control. The Kremlin, however, has said the Russian leader would only agree to talks if Zelenskyy travelled to Moscow. However, the few independent polls that still exist suggest that the share of Russians who favour peace talks has risen to 61%.

Source: The Guardian February 04, 2026 16:32 UTC