Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners as peace talks end without breakthrough

Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange of 157 people each, including soldiers and civilians, after US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi. The exchange, the first in four months, involved the return of Ukrainians held captive since 2022 and Russian soldiers held by Kyiv. The talks, involving Russian, Ukrainian, and US teams, aimed to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict. Territorial concessions demanded by Russia and security guarantees for Ukraine are major obstacles to a potential agreement. While the US envoy described the talks as productive, no breakthrough was achieved, and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed a desire for faster progress.

On February 1, 2026, a Russian drone strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region of east-central Ukraine killed 12 miners and injured 16. The miners were traveling on a bus after finishing their shift at a DTEK-operated coal mine. The strike was part of a larger Russian attack on Ukrainian mining operations, a critical hub for heating during a winter freeze. The attack occurred despite a partial truce requested by President Trump and planned peace talks in the United Arab Emirates. Russia's ongoing attacks have devastated Ukraine's power grid this winter, leaving many without heat and power, even after a previously agreed upon pause in attacks.

Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine, targeting its energy grid and leaving hundreds of thousands without heating during freezing temperatures. The strikes occurred on Tuesday, coinciding with Ukraine experiencing its coldest weather since the Russian invasion began and damaging a WWII monument. The attack took place a day before scheduled peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, accusing Russia of prioritizing terror over diplomacy. The attack also coincided with a surprise visit to Kyiv by NATO chief Mark Rutte, who met with Zelensky.

Ukrainian and Russian officials have gathered for their second round of talks in Abu Dhabi, brokered by the Trump administration. The talks are expected to mirror last month's format, but both sides have downplayed prospects of an immediate breakthrough. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that Moscow carried out a massive and "deliberate" attack on Kyiv using 71 ballistic missiles and 450 drones, targeting energy infrastructure. The US has proposed a plan where repeated breaches of a ceasefire agreement from Russia would lead to a coordinated military response from western allies. Meanwhile, the New Start treaty between the US and Russia expires on Thursday, removing mutual limits on nuclear arsenals. Western allies are reportedly weighing a new defense pact amid ongoing tensions.

Trilateral talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine will resume in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The negotiations aim to find a resolution to the ongoing war, following a previous round in late January that yielded little progress, particularly regarding territorial disputes. Russia continues to demand Ukraine cede a portion of the Donetsk region. The talks are occurring amid US pressure for a deal and a fragile ceasefire on energy targets, brokered by US President Donald Trump, who claims a deal is close. The US and Russian envoys also held separate talks in Florida.

Ukrainian and Russian officials concluded the first day of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, described as "productive" by Kyiv's lead negotiator. The trilateral meetings, involving US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aim to find concrete steps and practical solutions to the ongoing conflict. The talks occurred amidst continued fighting, including a Russian strike on a market in eastern Ukraine that resulted in casualties. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, stated the work was substantive and would prepare a report for President Zelensky. Discussions are expected to continue on Thursday.

Following a week-long pause requested by US President Trump, Russia has resumed attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing widespread damage and leaving many without power and heating as temperatures plummet. UK Prime Minister Starmer condemned the attacks as "barbaric." The strikes have severely damaged facilities, including a power plant in Kharkiv and Kyiv's Darnytsia CHP plant, leaving over 1,000 tower blocks in Kyiv without heating. Residents are seeking shelter in metro stations and communal heating centers. US envoys are meeting with Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Abu Dhabi to discuss a peace plan, but Russia has so far refused calls for a ceasefire. Ukraine's Energy Minister has described the energy situation as "difficult" and expects repairs to take time.

Donald Trump claimed that Vladimir Putin agreed to a one-week halt of strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure after a personal appeal, citing extreme cold in Ukraine. This alleged ceasefire, unconfirmed by Russia, was announced during a White House meeting. Trump stated he informed Ukrainian officials, who were reportedly pleased. Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged expecting the implementation of such an agreement. The claim follows recent Russian strikes that left over a million people in Kyiv without power. Talks between Ukraine and Russia are expected to continue in Abu Dhabi this weekend, despite a Kremlin aide rejecting assertions that territorial issues are the only remaining obstacle to peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that a security agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine is fully prepared for signing. Zelenskyy made the statement during a visit to Vilnius, Lithuania, following two days of discussions involving representatives from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia. He indicated that Ukraine is awaiting its partners to schedule the signing, after which the document will be submitted to the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian parliament for ratification. The agreement aims to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. The date of the signing is yet to be determined.

Former US President Donald Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for one week due to extreme cold weather. Trump said he personally requested this pause to alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by disrupted power, heating, and water supplies resulting from Russian strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure. The request was made in light of record-setting cold temperatures affecting both Ukraine and Russia. Trump expressed confidence that Putin would honor the agreement, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Kremlin. The strikes have left millions of Ukrainians without essential services during the winter months.

On January 30, 2026, day 1,436 of the Russia-Ukraine war, intensified fighting resulted in casualties on both sides. A Russian drone attack in Vilniansk, Zaporizhia region, killed three civilians and destroyed homes, while other Russian attacks caused deaths and injuries in Kryvyi Rih, Druzhkivka, and Khatnie. The death toll from a previous attack on Odesa rose to four. A Ukrainian drone attack reportedly killed a hospital employee in Russia's Belgorod region, and Russia claimed to have shot down 111 Ukrainian drones. Kyiv is facing an energy crisis with hundreds of residential buildings without heating as temperatures plummet. Presidents Zelenskyy and Trump announced an agreement with Russia for a week-long ceasefire in Kyiv and other cities due to severe winter weather, facilitated by discussions in the United Arab Emirates.

Ukraine is bracing for severe winter weather as President Trump announced that Russia's Putin agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine's power grid. Trump stated Putin agreed to his request to pause targeting Kyiv and other towns for one week due to the frigid temperatures causing hardship for civilians. However, Trump did not specify when the call with Putin occurred or when the moratorium would begin, and the White House has not provided further clarification. The Kremlin has not confirmed Putin's commitment. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about Russia's willingness to end the war, which is approaching its fourth anniversary next month.

On day 1,437 of the Russia-Ukraine war, January 31, 2026, a fragile pause in attacks on energy infrastructure began, reportedly at the request of former US President Trump to create favorable conditions for negotiations. Despite this, Kyiv still faces heating issues in numerous apartment buildings amid plummeting temperatures. Fighting continued, with Russian forces attacking a minibus in the Kherson region, resulting in casualties. Russian attacks in the Kherson region killed one woman and injured another. Ukraine reported that it was attacked with missiles and over 100 drones, with approximately 80 drones being shot down. Russia claimed to have seized the village of Ternuvate in the Zaporizhia region.

As a pause in Russian strikes on Kyiv nears its end, Ukraine is working to bolster its air defenses, particularly against drones, in frontline cities and border regions. The pause, reportedly requested by Donald Trump and agreed to by Vladimir Putin until February 1st, is intended to create favorable conditions for negotiations. Despite the halt, Russian officials have publicly advocated for escalation, and Ukrainian officials emphasize there is no formal ceasefire. Experts suggest the pause is more symbolic, reflecting political signaling and Trump's relationship with Putin, rather than a significant military shift. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is strengthening short-range air defenses against drones to protect frontline cities in the south and northeast.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a U.S. security guarantees document is "100% ready" for signing, with Kyiv awaiting confirmation from the U.S. on the date and location. Once signed, the agreement will proceed to ratification in both the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian parliament. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of these guarantees from the U.S. for Ukraine's security. He made the announcement at a joint press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, alongside the presidents of Lithuania and Poland. Zelenskyy also reiterated Ukraine's goal of joining the European Union by 2027 as another core security guarantee. His remarks followed trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi.

In early January 2026, over 30 Western countries met in Paris to outline security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. The proposed framework includes a US-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism and potential deployment of multinational forces led by France and the UK. While leaders like Macron and Starmer touted the guarantees as "robust," others, like Germany, expressed caution. President Zelenskyy stated Ukraine is ready to send the agreement to the US Congress and Ukrainian Parliament for ratification, emphasizing the importance of US security guarantees. However, the document remains unpublished, and details on enforcement are unclear. Some Ukrainians, including former officials, express skepticism, fearing the guarantees may lack practical tools for ensuring security.

Russian, Ukrainian, and American officials are holding rare three-way peace talks in the United Arab Emirates. These discussions, entering their second day on Saturday, aim to address a revised 20-point peace plan covering security, reconstruction, and prisoner exchanges. The plan originated last fall and has been updated with input from multiple countries. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated he expects "at least some answers" from Russia regarding the plan, but acknowledged it's too early to assess Russia's sincerity in negotiating, especially as attacks continue. Despite ongoing negotiations, Ukraine and Russia remain divided on key issues of security and territory.

US-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi concluded on January 24, 2026, without a breakthrough, though both sides expressed openness to further dialogue. The discussions, attended by Ukrainian and Russian officials, along with US envoys, aimed to address parameters for ending the war and security conditions. The UAE government described the talks as constructive, focusing on Washington's peace framework. Russia continues to insist on Ukraine withdrawing from Donbas. These talks occurred amidst ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which left 1.2 million people without power. Further talks are expected to take place as early as next week.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Abu Dhabi on Friday to discuss the critical territorial dispute, a major obstacle to resolving the ongoing conflict. The talks, mediated by the UAE, focused on parameters for ending the war, with Russia demanding Ukraine cede the Donbas region. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Russia's willingness to end the war is paramount, while also acknowledging pressure from the US for a peace deal. The Ukrainian delegation head, Rustem Umerov, discussed the negotiation process's future logic. Despite the meeting, no compromise was reached, and further discussions were scheduled for Saturday. The meeting occurred against a backdrop of intensified Russian air strikes causing a severe energy crisis in Ukraine.

Ahead of a second day of peace talks in Abu Dhabi between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, Russian attacks on Ukraine killed one person and wounded 23 on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Drone attacks in Kyiv killed one and wounded four, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration. In Kharkiv, drone attacks wounded 19 people, according to the city's mayor. The talks in the United Arab Emirates represent the first known instance of Trump administration officials meeting with both countries to seek a resolution to Russia's nearly four-year invasion. The UAE's foreign ministry stated the talks aim to promote dialogue and find political solutions, while the White House described the first day as productive.

Ukraine condemned recent Russian strikes that killed one and injured 23 others, coinciding with ongoing peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US in Abu Dhabi. The strikes, which targeted Kyiv and Kharkiv, damaged critical infrastructure and residential areas, including a maternity hospital and a hostel. Ukrainian officials described the attacks as "brutal" and proof that Putin is not interested in peace. The talks, the first trilateral discussions since Russia's 2022 invasion, have reportedly made some progress, but territorial disputes remain a major obstacle. Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine and demands Ukraine cede large areas of territory, which Ukraine refuses to do.

On January 23, 2026, day 1,429 of the Russia-Ukraine war, fighting continued across Ukraine, resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage. Russian drone and glide bomb attacks targeted regions including Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk, causing deaths, injuries, and damage to residential buildings. Russia claimed to have shot down 31 Ukrainian drones. Meanwhile, a French naval operation in the Mediterranean Sea intercepted a Russian oil tanker suspected of evading international sanctions. Ukraine's energy system faced its most challenging day since November 2022, with widespread heating outages in Kyiv and the Dnipropetrovsk region due to Russian attacks and low temperatures. Ukrainian negotiators are heading to the UAE for talks with Russian and United States negotiators.

Ukraine's foreign minister accused Vladimir Putin of undermining potential peace negotiations with recent large-scale strikes. This accusation comes as Russia insists that Kyiv must withdraw its troops from annexed eastern territories as a precondition for any peace agreement. Prior to the planned three-way talks, Putin reportedly discussed a Ukraine settlement with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in lengthy overnight discussions. The timing of the strikes, just before negotiations, suggests a deliberate attempt to weaken Ukraine's position at the negotiating table, according to Kyiv. The location of the strikes was within Ukraine.

In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Europe to demonstrate greater courage and unity. He warned that NATO's dependence on the United States is vulnerable, citing Russia's growing missile capabilities and recent tensions surrounding Greenland as examples. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for Europe to act as a global power to counter these threats. His address aimed to encourage European nations to take a more proactive and independent role in ensuring their collective security. The speech highlights concerns about the shifting geopolitical landscape and the need for Europe to strengthen its own defense capabilities.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump promoted his new "Board of Peace," a controversial organization aimed at resolving international conflicts. The board, which requires a US$1 billion membership fee, has invited leaders like Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Viktor Orban to join. This announcement follows Trump's decision to scrap tariffs against Europe and dismiss the idea of acquiring Greenland from Denmark, actions that eased tensions at the global meeting. Trump expressed his belief that the board is the "greatest ever formed" during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, another leader who has agreed to participate. The launch occurs amidst reports of Trump's disappointment at not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.