Global & US Headlines
First UAE Trilateral Sets Stage for U.S.–Brokered Ukraine–Russia Cease-Fire Talks
On 23-24 Jan 2026, Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. military-diplomatic teams met face-to-face in Abu Dhabi for the first time since the 2022 invasion, sketched provisional cease-fire parameters and agreed to reconvene on 1 Feb 2026.
Focusing Facts
- Delegations headed by Rustem Umerov (Ukraine), Igor Kostyukov (Russia) and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff & Jared Kushner held two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, 23–24 Jan 2026.
- All sides accepted a follow-up round in the UAE starting 1 Feb 2026 to refine security guarantees and oversight of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
- While talks were underway, Russia launched 375 drones and 21 missiles overnight, cutting power to about 800,000 Kyiv customers.
Context
Great-power wars often reach their first serious negotiating table only after years of stalemate—think Panmunjom in 1951 when U.S., Chinese and North-Korean commanders talked armistice even as Seoul was shelled. Abu Dhabi now fills a similar role: a neutral, energy-rich micro-state hosting combatants who still trade barrages. The meeting reflects two larger currents: Washington’s persistence as Europe’s security underwriter despite talk of "strategic autonomy," and the rise of Gulf capitals as diplomatic switchboards for conflicts far afield, echoing OPEC-era shuttle diplomacy of the 1970s but with far more military muscle in the room. Whether this moment becomes a hinge of history or another Minsk-style faux peace hinges on unresolved hard questions—territory and long-term deterrence mechanisms—not yet solved but for the first time addressed directly by generals from both sides. If a durable framework emerges, it could reshape the Eurasian security map for decades; if it collapses, it will be a brief footnote on the century-long ledger of failed attempts to arrest great-power revanchism.
Perspectives
Mainstream Western news agencies
Associated Press, Bloomberg, etc. — They describe the UAE meetings as “constructive,” highlighting American mediation and suggesting momentum toward a cease-fire even while no concrete deal was reached. Relying largely on U.S. officials and Ukrainian statements, this coverage foregrounds the U.S. diplomatic role and Russian aggression while giving little space to Moscow’s territorial demands or doubts about Washington’s motives.
Russian state media
TASS — Reports cast the talks as orderly and set to continue, stressing that the delegations agreed to meet again and depicting the atmosphere as “very constructive.” By omitting any reference to Russia’s overnight missile barrages or Kyiv’s territorial concerns, the coverage seeks to sanitize Moscow’s conduct and present Russia as a reasonable negotiating partner.
US right-leaning commentary/tabloid outlets
The Last Refuge, New York Post — They emphasise that the first-ever trilateral talks produced “no breakthroughs” while Russia pounded Ukraine, portraying continued warfare and European timidity despite upbeat official pronouncements. Loaded language and focus on dramatic details play up failure and chaos, reinforcing a narrative that Western elites and European leaders are weak and that only assertive U.S. oversight can end the war.