Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Begin Amid Fresh Drone Attacks

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, facilitated by the United States, have started in the United Arab Emirates, even as Russian forces launched another wave of strikes across Ukraine.

Direct negotiations involving Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. representatives resumed in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24. These meetings are a rare occurrence since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

US-Brokered Negotiations Kick Off in the UAE

Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, confirmed the commencement of the talks on X, stating that the meeting began in a trilateral format.

"Next comes work in separate groups by specific tracks, after which a follow-up joint synchronization of positions is planned," he explained.

According to media reports citing a White House official, Steve Witkoff, special envoy for US President Donald Trump, is representing the United States in the negotiations.

Skepticism Mounts as Kremlin Holds Firm

Hopes for a significant breakthrough are low as the war nears its fourth anniversary. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on February 4 that Russia's stance remains unchanged. He stated that Moscow's position is "absolutely clear and well understood by both Kyiv and the American negotiators."

This diplomatic effort is shadowed by what Ukrainian officials call a familiar Kremlin tactic: using talks to buy time while escalating military assaults in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Ukrainian political analyst Ihor Reiterovych warned that the United States might be underestimating Russia's territorial ambitions. Speaking to Current Time, he said there is "absolutely no guarantee" that Putin would stop after securing parts of Ukraine.

Reiterovych also stressed the need for stronger security guarantees for Ukraine, insisting they must be "written not like the Budapest Memorandum." He referred to the 1994 agreement where the U.S., Russia, and the U.K. guaranteed Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for the country giving up its nuclear arsenal.

Diplomacy Under Fire: Widespread Attacks Continue

The negotiations began just hours after Russia launched a massive barrage of missiles and drones, hitting the Ukrainian capital and other regions across the country.

The Ukrainian Air Forces reported on February 4 that Russian forces had launched over 100 drones at Ukraine overnight.

Regional authorities reported the following impacts from the attacks:

• Dnipropetrovsk Region: A drone attack resulted in two deaths—a 68-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man—and left two others wounded, according to Mykola Lukashuk, head of the regional administration.

• Odesa Region: An overnight Russian attack injured at least five people. Local authorities also reported damage to houses, kindergartens, and a school.