Reuters: No breakthrough in Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Abu Dhabi

Negotiations held in Abu Dhabi between Russian and Ukrainian officials concluded without reaching an agreement, Reuters reports, noting the continuation of airstrikes in Ukraine as evidence of the stalled talks.

The agency added that "Kyiv is under mounting U.S. pressure to reach a peace deal in the war triggered by Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Moscow demanding Kyiv cede its entire eastern industrial area of Donbas before it stops fighting".

Russia remains insistent on transferring full control of the Donbas region under its authority, while Ukraine has firmly rejected any territorial concessions.

Earlier, the United Arab Emirates released photographs from the closed-door meeting, which took place on the evening of 23 January. This marked the first in-person gathering of Russian and Ukrainian officials since July 2025.

The images show UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosting the meeting; the head of the Russian delegation, Chief of the General Staff Main Directorate Igor Kostyukov; US representative Jared Kushner; Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security Council Rustem Umerov; US special envoy Steve Witkoff; and head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov.

A White House representative described the talks as “productive.”

By Tamilla Hasanova