Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners as peace talks end without breakthrough

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.

A second round of US-brokered peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, beginning February 4, 2026. The talks aim to find a path to end the nearly four-year Russia-Ukraine war. These trilateral discussions follow a previous round held in the UAE and represent the first direct public negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv based on a plan proposed by the Trump administration. However, progress remains challenging as the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion approaches. The primary obstacles continue to be the long-term status of Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine and security guarantees for Ukraine. Recent Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have further complicated the negotiations.

A second round of trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, initially scheduled for Sunday in Abu Dhabi, has been postponed to Wednesday and Thursday. The delay follows a meeting in Florida between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev, where they discussed the conflict. Details of the Witkoff-Dmitriev meeting remain undisclosed, though Witkoff described it as "productive." Ukrainian President Zelenskyy alluded to potential delays due to U.S.-Iran tensions and stated Ukraine is awaiting details from the U.S. regarding further meetings. The first round of talks took place in Abu Dhabi in late January and were described as "constructive." Significant obstacles remain in reaching a peace agreement to end the war, which Russia initiated.

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 Wednesday, Russian shelling in Druzhkivka, eastern Ukraine, killed at least seven people and injured 15 at a crowded market. Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin reported the attack used cluster munitions and targeted the market during a busy time. Separately, Russian aerial bombs damaged homes and buildings in the city. The attacks occurred as Russian and Ukrainian officials participated in US-brokered negotiations in Abu Dhabi. Filashkin condemned the shelling as a war crime, accusing Russia of violating a truce pledge. Elsewhere, Russian strikes hit the Dnipropetrovsk region and Odesa, causing further casualties and damage. Russia also claimed to have seized the settlements of Staroukrainka and Stepanivka.

On Sunday, a Russian drone strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine killed at least 12 miners, with the death toll later rising to 15. The attack, described by a DTEK spokesperson as a "terrorist attack on civilian infrastructure," targeted a bus transporting miners after their shift, roughly 40 miles from the front line. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine confirmed the incident and reported at least seven injuries. The attack occurred hours after President Zelenskyy announced the postponement of planned peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S., which are now scheduled for February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi. The delay followed a meeting between envoys from Donald Trump and the Kremlin in Florida on Saturday. Zelenskyy condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on civilians.

A growing number of war-weary Ukrainians are considering ceding the remaining Ukrainian-controlled portion of the Donbas region to Russia in exchange for lasting peace and strong security guarantees from allies. This shift in public opinion comes as peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States continue in Abu Dhabi. While President Zelensky has publicly opposed withdrawing from the Donbas, he has hinted at compromise amid battlefield pressure. Recent polls indicate increasing acceptance of territorial concessions as a potential path to ending the conflict. The Donbas region, a key point of contention, has been heavily fortified by Ukraine, while Russia seeks its capture to claim a victory.

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.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on January 26, 2026, that a security agreement with the United States is "100 percent ready" for signing, pending confirmation of the date and location from the US. This announcement followed talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Abu Dhabi regarding a framework for ending the ongoing war. While no immediate deal was reached, both sides expressed openness to further dialogue, with additional discussions planned. Zelenskyy highlighted that fundamental differences, particularly regarding territorial concessions, remain a significant obstacle. He also emphasized Ukraine's pursuit of EU membership by 2027 as an economic security guarantee.

Talks between Russian, Ukrainian, and American officials aimed at ending the war in Ukraine are scheduled to continue next week. The announcement follows face-to-face negotiations held in Abu Dhabi last weekend, the first such meeting between Ukraine and Russia since June. While both Ukrainian and Russian officials expressed some optimism after the talks, a Kremlin spokesman gave little indication that Russia was ready to compromise on its aims in Ukraine. A major point of contention remains control of territory in eastern Ukraine, with Russia insisting on terms it claims were previously agreed to by the U.S. president. The ongoing negotiations also involve discussions about American involvement in postwar security guarantees for Ukraine.

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.