Kyiv | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday announced that the next round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held in Abu Dhabi on February 4 and 5. The talks will be conducted in a trilateral format, with representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the United States expected to participate.
In a post on Telegram, President Zelenskyy said he had received an update from Ukraine’s negotiation team confirming the dates of the upcoming meeting. “The dates for the next trilateral meeting have been finalised. Ukraine is ready for meaningful dialogue, and we want these talks to lead towards a real and dignified end to this war,” he stated.
However, there was no immediate response from either American or Russian officials regarding the announcement. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, the two sides remain divided on several critical issues, with the Donbas region emerging as the most contentious point of disagreement.
The primary dispute centres on Russia’s control over parts of the Donbas region and the future status of other occupied territories. Meanwhile, hostilities on the ground have continued, underlining the fragile nature of any diplomatic progress.
On Sunday morning, a Russian drone strike hit a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, a city in southern Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s emergency services, three women were injured in the attack, and a fire broke out in the gynaecology ward, which was later brought under control. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Ukrainian authorities, who accused Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure.
The latest attack came amid claims by US President Donald Trump that Russia had agreed to temporarily halt strikes on Kyiv and other cities to prevent further suffering of civilians during harsh winter conditions. The Kremlin confirmed on Friday that attacks on Kyiv had been paused, but did not provide further details.
Despite this, Russian forces carried out strikes last week in Odesa, Kharkiv, and parts of the Kyiv region, resulting in two deaths and four injuries. By Sunday, Ukrainian officials reported that Russia had launched 90 attack drones, with 14 striking nine different locations.
In eastern Ukraine, a drone attack in Dnipro killed a man and a woman, while in central Kherson, shelling left a 59-year-old woman seriously injured.
As preparations for the Abu Dhabi peace talks continue, ongoing military action highlights the challenges facing negotiators. The upcoming discussions are being closely watched by the international community amid hopes that diplomacy could pave the way for de-escalation and a sustainable resolution to the conflict.
