Zelenskyy says Ukraine-Russia-U.S. talks were constructive, with another round eyed for Feb. 1

A fresh attempt at momentum in negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said two days of talks involving representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the United States concluded with “constructive” discussions on possible parameters for ending the war. The meetings, held in Kyiv, were notable because they represented a rare instance in which officials linked to Washington sat down in proximity to both Ukrainian and Russian counterparts as part of a renewed push toward a settlement.

According to Zelenskyy, the delegations agreed to report back to their capitals on different elements of the discussions and coordinate next steps with national leaders. A U.S. official described the talks as upbeat and said another round could take place on February 1, 2026, in the United Arab Emirates. Even with that scheduling signal, the broader reality remains that many of the hardest political questions—especially those involving territory—have historically proven resistant to compromise.

Ceasefire sequencing and nuclear-plant control remain sensitive

Participants discussed a broad set of military and economic issues, including the idea of a ceasefire coming before a comprehensive agreement. One of the most complicated topics referenced was the future of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, which is occupied by Russia. The U.S. official said there was no final agreement on oversight and operation, though power generated from the plant was described as something that would be shared on an “equitable basis.”

For Kyiv, any plan that touches the plant carries both symbolic and practical weight: it is a strategic asset, a major infrastructure node, and a persistent safety risk in a war zone. For Moscow, the plant’s status intersects with the Kremlin’s effort to leverage control over territory and critical infrastructure in negotiations. That clash explains why even partial understandings can be difficult to translate into an enforceable arrangement.

Path to leader-level meetings still uncertain

Zelenskyy emphasized the need for American monitoring and control of any peace implementation process to ensure durable security. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated alongside Ukrainian officials, while Russia sent military intelligence and army representatives. The U.S. official cautioned that more talks inside Russia or Ukraine might be necessary before any direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin becomes feasible, or before a joint leader-level session that could include U.S. President Donald Trump.

The talks unfolded against continued violence, with Russian strikes hitting Ukrainian cities even as negotiations were underway, underscoring a central paradox of war diplomacy: pressure to talk often rises at the same time as pressure to fight. Whether the next scheduled round produces breakthroughs or simply narrows disagreements, officials signaled at least a willingness to continue the process rather than abandon it.