Zelenskyy said the talks, which were hosted by the United Arab Emirates over two days, involved political and military representatives from all three sides and addressed security-related issues, including the need for American monitoring and oversight.<\/p>\n
“A lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive<\/a>,” he wrote on X, noting the delegations could have further meetings as early as next week. “As a result of the meetings held over these days, all sides agreed to report back in their capitals on each aspect of the negotiations and to coordinate further steps with their leaders.”<\/p>\n The Abu Dhabi talks followed a meeting in Moscow<\/a> on Thursday between Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump\u2019s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Josh Gruenbaum, the head of the Federal Acquisition Service.<\/p>\n RUSSIA ALLEGES ATTACK ON PUTIN RESIDENCE AS UKRAINE DENIES CLAIM AHEAD OF TRUMP TALKS<\/a><\/p>\n Russia\u2019s President Vladimir Putin meets with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum at the Kremlin in Moscow on Jan. 22, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov\/Pool\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said the “extremely frank” discussions lasted roughly four hours and included U.S. officials updating Moscow on their recent conversations<\/a> with Ukrainian and European leaders.<\/p>\n “Importantly, the participants in the conversation between the President of Russia and the Americans reaffirmed the fact that bringing about a lasting settlement would be unlikely without addressing the territorial issue based on the formula as agreed in Anchorage<\/a>,” Ushakov said, according to a summary of the meeting from the Kremlin.<\/p>\n Territorial issues remain a key obstacle in the negotiations, with Moscow pressing Kyiv to relinquish parts of eastern Ukraine\u2019s Donbas region that Russian forces do not fully control.<\/p>\n RUSSIA, UKRAINE TO DISCUSS TERRITORY AS TRUMP SAYS BOTH SIDES \u2018WANT TO MAKE A DEAL\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Icicles hang from balconies in an apartment block damaged by a drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 24, 2026. (Viacheslav Madiievskyi\/Ukrinform\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n The diplomatic efforts come as Russia continues its strikes across Ukraine, targeting the country\u2019s energy sector, critical infrastructure and residential areas.<\/p>\n UKRAINE-RUSSIA AT A CROSSROADS: HOW THE WAR EVOLVED IN 2025 AND WHAT COMES NEXT<\/a><\/p>\n Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Russian forces launched more than 1,700 attack drones, over 1,380 guided aerial bombs and 69 missiles in the past week alone.<\/p>\n Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives to meet UK Defense Secretary John Healey at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv on Jan. 9, 2026. (Stefan Rousseau\/PA Images via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Russia\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/putin-kremlin-us-officials.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Icicles](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/kharkiv-ukraine-winter.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Zelenskyy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/zelenskyy-kyiv-ukraine.jpg\")
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