Trilateral Abu Dhabi Talks End Without Breakthrough as Russian Strikes Batter Ukraine
Talks in Abu Dhabi concluded with plans for Feb. 1 follow-up as Russian strikes killed one and wounded dozens, cutting power to over 1.2 million.
Overview
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Jan. 23-24 trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi ended with "constructive" discussions and that negotiators agreed to report back to capitals and meet again on Feb. 1, according to his Telegram post.
The talks came amid waves of Russian drone and missile strikes that Ukrainian officials said on Jan. 24 involved 375 drones and 21 missiles, killed one person in Kyiv and wounded 35 others while cutting power for about 1.2 million people in sub-zero temperatures.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated alongside Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Kyrylo Budanov, and Russia sent military intelligence and army representatives, a U.S. official and Zelenskyy confirmed.
Russia accused Ukraine of attacking an ambulance in Russian-controlled territory in Kherson that killed three medics, while Ukrainian officials and international reporters noted conflicting accounts and the BBC said it could not independently verify some claims.
Officials face a key unresolved issue over territory in the eastern Donbas region and control of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and U.S. and Ukrainian officials said further bilateral talks would likely be needed before any leaders' meeting.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this development neutrally, attributing evaluative language to officials and balancing optimism with countervailing facts. The piece uses quotes ('constructive', 'upbeat and positive') as source content, notes unresolved territorial disputes and ongoing Russian attacks, and cites U.S., Ukrainian and Russian positions rather than adopting a single editorial stance.
Sources (23)
FAQ
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated alongside Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Kyrylo Budanov; Russia sent military intelligence and army representatives.
The key unresolved issue is territory in the eastern Donbas region, where Russia demands Ukrainian withdrawal from areas it does not control, and control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Russian strikes on Jan. 24 involved 375 drones and 21 missiles, killing one person in Kyiv, wounding 35 others, and cutting power to about 1.2 million people in sub-zero temperatures.
The talks are set to continue in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 1.
Zelenskyy described the Jan. 23-24 talks as 'constructive,' noting negotiators agreed to report back to capitals and meet again on Feb. 1.
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