Kremlin Calls Abu Dhabi Talks Constructive as Zelenskyy Seeks U.S. Guarantees
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said envoys met in Abu Dhabi and negotiators will reconvene Feb. 1, 2026.
Overview
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Jan. 26 that envoys from Ukraine, Russia and the United States—including U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—held "constructive" talks in Abu Dhabi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Vilnius on Jan. 26, 2026 that a U.S. security guarantees document is "100% ready" after the Abu Dhabi talks and awaits a signing date.
A Kremlin summary said Moscow insists Kyiv withdraw troops from areas Russia annexed, a position Ukrainian officials dispute, officials confirmed.
Russia's Defense Ministry said on Jan. 26 that air defenses downed 40 Ukrainian drones late Sunday and early Monday, including 34 over Krasnodar and four over the Sea of Azov.
Negotiators will reconvene in the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 1, 2026, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the talks as cautiously hopeful but stalled, using conciliatory terms ("constructive") while foregrounding obstacles ("major challenges remain," "hardline demands") and civilian hardship. Editorial choices prioritize U.S. mediation and high-level quotes, highlight the territorial impasse, and juxtapose upbeat official language with battlefield reporting to temper optimism.
Sources (25)
FAQ
The key U.S. envoys were Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Russia insists that Ukraine withdraw troops from areas it annexed, including the Donbas region where Russia controls about 90 percent.
Negotiators will reconvene in the United Arab Emirates on February 1, 2026.
Zelenskyy stated that a U.S. security guarantees document is '100% ready' after the talks and awaits a signing date.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported downing 40 Ukrainian drones, and Russia launched a large aerial assault on Ukraine shortly after talks, amid ongoing fighting.
History
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