Ukrainian and Russian negotiators held the first round of US-led peace talks in Abu Dhabi as Washington seeks a pathway to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has said repeatedly any settlement must include Ukraine ceding the entire eastern Donbas region, including areas still under Ukrainian control. The second round of talks was initially supposed to start on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, but was postponed until Wednesday because of rising tensions in the region over Iran. The US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, have travelled to Abu Dhabi for the negotiations. Ukraine and several European governments have accused Beijing of providing weapons to Russia, allegations China denies.

Source: The Guardian February 04, 2026 17:02 UTC