Ukraine and Russia agree to more direct talks as strikes hit Kyiv and Kharkiv; next round set for Feb. 1

Ukraine and Russia have agreed to hold another round of direct peace talks, with the next meeting expected on February 1 in Abu Dhabi, according to reporting that described the discussions as U.S.-mediated and ongoing. The planned follow-up comes as the nearly four-year war continues to grind on, with diplomacy and battlefield violence unfolding in parallel. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/25/ukraine-war-briefing-kyiv-and-moscow-set-to-hold-more-face-to-face-talks-as-us-hails-big-step-forward?utm_source=openai))

The talks have proceeded despite intensified Russian attacks. Over the weekend, Russia launched a large drone-and-missile strike targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s two largest cities, with officials reporting casualties, damage to buildings, and disruptions to essential services. Ukrainian leaders said the timing looked designed to undermine negotiations rather than support them. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/24/russia-launches-deadly-strikes-on-kyiv-and-kharkiv-ahead-of-day-two-of-peace-talks?utm_source=openai))

One of the most immediate effects was on energy infrastructure. Reports described widespread power outages, including large numbers of people in Kyiv losing electricity amid freezing winter temperatures. That context has made the resilience of Ukraine’s grid—and the ability to protect it—an urgent backdrop to any diplomatic progress. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/24/russia-launches-deadly-strikes-on-kyiv-and-kharkiv-ahead-of-day-two-of-peace-talks?utm_source=openai))

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized discussions as constructive, while Ukrainian officials emphasized that Russia’s military activity undercut confidence-building. The juxtaposition of negotiations and strikes has fed skepticism in Ukraine about whether Moscow is negotiating in good faith or simply buying time. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/25/ukraine-war-briefing-kyiv-and-moscow-set-to-hold-more-face-to-face-talks-as-us-hails-big-step-forward?utm_source=openai))

From the U.S. side, officials framed the talks as meaningful forward movement. U.S.-linked diplomacy has included meetings and shuttle contacts with Russian leadership ahead of the next round, suggesting Washington is attempting to create a structured pathway for continued engagement. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/25/ukraine-war-briefing-kyiv-and-moscow-set-to-hold-more-face-to-face-talks-as-us-hails-big-step-forward?utm_source=openai))

Meanwhile, the battlefield situation remains fluid. Reports referenced contested claims about territory in northeast Ukraine and cross-border activity affecting Russia’s Belgorod region, highlighting that both militaries are still trying to improve their leverage as negotiations continue. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/25/ukraine-war-briefing-kyiv-and-moscow-set-to-hold-more-face-to-face-talks-as-us-hails-big-step-forward?utm_source=openai))

Outside the immediate front lines, sanctions enforcement remains part of the broader conflict. French authorities intercepted a tanker suspected of sanctions evasion, reflecting continued European efforts to target logistics networks believed to support Russia’s wartime economy. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/25/ukraine-war-briefing-kyiv-and-moscow-set-to-hold-more-face-to-face-talks-as-us-hails-big-step-forward?utm_source=openai))

The next Abu Dhabi meeting will be watched for signs of concrete deliverables—such as localized ceasefires, prisoner exchanges, or energy-infrastructure protections. For now, the reality is stark: diplomacy is moving forward, but so are missiles and drones, leaving civilians exposed even as negotiators talk. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/24/russia-launches-deadly-strikes-on-kyiv-and-kharkiv-ahead-of-day-two-of-peace-talks?utm_source=openai))