#JUSTIN: Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Enter Second Day in UAE

The second round of trilateral peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United States, entered its second day on Thursday in the UAE, as both sides aim to end nearly four years of hostilities. The first day of negotiations was described by participants as “productive” and “constructive,” although European Union officials remain skeptical about Russia’s intentions for a lasting resolution.

The initial round, held last Wednesday, concluded without a major breakthrough, but Kyiv officials called the discussions “substantive and productive.” Despite progress in dialogue, a major deadlock remains over territorial concessions in eastern Ukraine, with Moscow demanding Kyiv withdraw troops from key areas of the Donbas region, rich in natural resources and heavily fortified.

Kyiv has firmly rejected these demands, insisting that any agreement must respect current front lines. The Institute for the Study of War reports that, as of February 5, Russian forces continue to control roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and are actively seeking further advances into the country.

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While negotiations are ongoing, Russia has intensified strikes on Ukraine’s strategic, logistical, and energy infrastructure. Recent attacks on power plants have left hundreds of thousands of civilians without electricity in sub-zero winter temperatures, underscoring the urgent humanitarian stakes of the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the talks must deliver concrete outcomes for a lasting peace, without allowing Moscow opportunities to prolong the war. Official figures cite 55,000 Ukrainian military casualties, though independent analysts suggest actual losses on both sides are likely significantly higher, including mercenaries and foreign troops engaged in the conflict.

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