Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that a new round of talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia will take place this week as Kiev pushes for progress in ending the war while Moscow continues attacks across the country.
Writing on X, Zelenskyy said the meetings are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Abu Dhabi.
“Ukraine is ready for a substantive discussion, and we are interested in ensuring that the outcome brings us closer to a real and dignified end to the war,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The announcement comes as Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy and logistics infrastructure, worsening conditions for civilians as winter temperatures drop.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sunday, January 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
Ukrainian officials say Moscow has repeatedly targeted electricity grids, heating and water systems during the nearly four-year war. Kiev has described this campaign as an attempt to use winter conditions as a weapon against the civilian population.
An elderly man looks out from his damaged balcony after a Russian attack in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, January 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko)
Authorities warned that Ukraine is headed for one of the coldest periods of the season, with temperatures expected to drop to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service said.
President Donald Trump said late last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Kiev and other cities because of the extreme cold.
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“I personally asked President Putin not to fire on Kiev and its cities and towns for a week during this… extraordinary cold,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting at the White House, adding that Putin had “agreed to that.”
The White House has provided no details on the timing or extent of the pause, and Ukrainian officials have expressed skepticism about Russia’s intentions.
Zelensky said Thursday that key obstacles to a peace deal remain unresolved, including the future of occupied Ukrainian territory and Moscow’s demands for land it has not captured.
Firefighters work at the site of a private company that was hit by a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine on January 30, 2026. (Reuters)
Russia struck Ukrainian energy facilities in several regions on Thursday, Zelensky said, although he noted such attacks did not happen overnight. He added that Russian drones and missiles continue to hit residential areas and logistics hubs across Ukraine.
Trump has described Putin’s acceptance of a pause as a concession, but Zelenskyy questioned whether Moscow is genuinely interested in ending the war as the invasion approaches its fourth anniversary on February 24.
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“I don’t believe Russia wants to end the war. There is a lot of evidence to the contrary,” Zelensky said on Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
