After a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi, Russia and Ukraine agreed on Saturday to hold a second round of direct peace talks next week, scheduled for February 1 under U.S. mediation. A U.S. official described bringing all parties to the same table as a major step forward, noting significant progress in identifying key issues for a final decision. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the discussions constructive and important.

The talks mark the first direct participation of both nations in discussions under U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end nearly four years of war. Their previous meeting in Istanbul last summer had been limited to a prisoner exchange agreement. However, tensions flared again on the second day of the Abu Dhabi meeting when Russia launched extensive drone and missile attacks, leaving millions without power in freezing conditions.

Kyiv authorities labeled the assault a “night of Russian terror,” accusing Moscow of trying to undermine the peace process. Despite the ongoing conflict, ordinary residents of Kyiv remain uncertain about a swift resolution.