Despite continued fighting in eastern Ukraine, diplomatic efforts to find a path toward peace are ongoing. the first trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States concluded this weekend in Abu Dhabi, wiht plans for a follow-up meeting next week, according to US officials. As Russia reportedly makes incremental gains in the Kharkiv region and amid renewed attacks, international attention remains focused on these talks and the possibility of de-escalation in the nearly two-year-old conflict.
The situation in Ukraine remains tense, with Russian forces reportedly gaining ground in the east while diplomatic efforts continue. Negotiations are ongoing in Abu Dhabi as the conflict enters its third year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that a document outlining security guarantees from the United States is ready for signature. “The document is 100 percent ready, and we are waiting for our partners to confirm the date and place where we will sign it,” Zelenskyy said during a meeting with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. “For us, security guarantees are, first and foremost, guarantees of security from the United States.”
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda accused Russia of obstructing peace initiatives aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Following a meeting with Zelenskyy in Vilnius, Nauseda stated that Moscow is also unwilling to accept a ceasefire, according to Reuters.
Transparency Note
Table of Contents
- US Praises Talks in Abu Dhabi; Further Meeting Planned for Next Sunday
- Greens Demand Taurus Delivery to Ukraine
- Putin’s Allies: Which Countries Stand with Russia in the Ukraine War
- Kremlin: Will Never Talk to EU Chief Diplomat Kallas
- Ukraine War Update: Zelenskyy Reports 1,700 Russian Drone Attacks Within a Week
- Ukraine War Update: Rockets Damage Facilities in Russia’s Energy War
- Ukraine War Update: Russia Advances in Kharkiv – Trump Envoy Announces Further Talks
- Struggling for an End to the Ukraine War
- Russia Loses More Than 1,000 Soldiers in One Day
The information processed here comes from news agencies and international sources, as well as from parties involved in the Ukraine War. This information cannot be independently verified.
US Praises Talks in Abu Dhabi; Further Meeting Planned for Next Sunday
The United States has reported that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi have yielded “a lot of work” accomplished by both sides, with plans to continue the direct dialogue. A US government official stated after the conclusion of the first trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi that the next round of negotiations is scheduled for next Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed satisfaction with the progress of the talks. However, the negotiations over the weekend were overshadowed by renewed intense Russian attacks on various regions of Ukraine. According to the US government official, the next talks will also be held in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The agreement to hold further discussions is “a good sign,” he added, noting that “a lot of work” had already been done during the two-day talks.
Update, 2:54 PM: The captain of the tanker “Grinch,” allegedly part of Russia’s shadow fleet, has been taken into custody by France. France 24 reports, citing the French public prosecutor’s office, that French special forces seized the oil tanker on Thursday and escorted it to a port near Marseille. The Kremlin is attempting to circumvent Western sanctions in the Ukraine conflict and continue exporting oil using the Russian shadow fleet.
Greens Demand Taurus Delivery to Ukraine
Update, 2:17 PM: Green Party leader Franziska Brantner has called for the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine in light of renewed Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. “Anyone who takes warmth away from people in winter is not waging war against soldiers, but against families, the elderly and children,” Brantner told the German Press Agency.
The Green politician accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of war crimes and emphasized: “Putin does not want peace, he wants subjugation.” She added that the German government must work with European partners to examine who can deliver further air defense systems. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz had previously supported the delivery of Taurus missiles but has not yet implemented it.
Kremlin: Will Never Talk to EU Chief Diplomat Kallas
Update, 1:23 PM: Russia has categorically rejected any talks with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “We will never discuss anything with her, and the Americans won’t either, that’s clear,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television, according to Reuters.
Moscow will simply wait for Kallas to leave office. The Estonian politician had accused Russia of making no concessions for an end to the war and instead intensifying attacks on civilians.
Ukraine War Update: Zelenskyy Reports 1,700 Russian Drone Attacks Within a Week
Update, 12:21 PM: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned massive Russian attacks over the past week. He stated that Russia deployed more than 1,700 attack drones, over 1,380 guided aerial bombs, and 69 missiles against Ukraine in just seven days, according to Reuters on X.
Each massive Russian attack can have devastating consequences, the president warned during a Sunday visit to Lithuania. “We are working with every head of state and government to strengthen Ukraine,” Zelenskyy emphasized. “Everyone must understand the threat posed by Russia.”
Ukraine War Update: Rockets Damage Facilities in Russia’s Energy War
Update, 11:22 AM, January 25: Despite talks to end the war, fighting continues in Ukraine. Overnight, further attacks occurred: 102 combat drones and two Iskander missiles were reportedly deployed, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. 87 drones were reportedly intercepted, but there were also hits in ten different locations.
On the other side, Russia also reported Ukrainian shelling. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 52 drones were intercepted. The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that energy facilities were damaged by missile attacks overnight. He did not provide any information on the consequences.
Ukraine War Update: Russia Advances in Kharkiv – Trump Envoy Announces Further Talks
Initial report: Russia has reportedly captured the village of Staryzja in the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian General Staff has not confirmed the capture of the village in the northeastern Ukrainian region.
However, Ukrainian forces reported six Russian attacks in the area, according to Reuters. The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced overnight attacks on Ukrainian drone sites and energy facilities. The information from both sides cannot be independently verified at this time.
Struggling for an End to the Ukraine War
Further talks to end the Ukraine war are planned in the United Arab Emirates next week, according to US officials. Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for US President Donald Trump, wrote on X that the trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington held Friday and Saturday were “very constructive.” Plans were made “to continue the talks in Abu Dhabi next week.”
The goal of the negotiations is to find a way to end the war against Ukraine, which was ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in February 2022. Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede territories and renounce its aspirations for a NATO membership and a strong army. Ukraine has rejected further withdrawals from territories not currently occupied by Russian forces. The US wants to act as a mediator to bring both sides to compromise.
Russia Loses More Than 1,000 Soldiers in One Day
Update, 12:21 PM: Russia reportedly lost 1,020 soldiers in the past 24 hours, either killed or wounded. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Putin’s losses in the Ukraine war now total approximately 1,234,040 soldiers. Since the start of the fighting on February 24, 2022, Russia has also lost 11,605 tanks, 23,950 armored fighting vehicles, and 36,612 artillery systems. (Editorial staff with news agencies)
