Ukrainian foreign minister condemns Russian missile strikes as cynical amid talks

Ukraine’s foreign minister has described Russia’s overnight attacks across Ukraine as cynical, happening as talks continued between the delegations in Abu Dhabi.

Andrii Sybiha said it was “another night of Russian terror” for Ukrainians, adding that the missiles “hit not only our people, but also the negotiation table”.

“Main targets remained the same: energy objects and residential areas,” he added.

Officials engaged in ‘direct interaction’ during talks

The UAE has said that talks in Abu Dhabi involving Russian and Ukrainian delegations included “direct interaction” between officials from both sides and centred on core elements of a peace framework proposed by the US.

The discussions focused on “prominent elements” of the US-backed proposal and were conducted in a positive and constructive environment, a UAE government spokesperson said.

Participants in the Abu Dhabi talks include US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russia’s Igor Kostyukov, and Ukraine’s Kyrylo Budanov and Rustem Umerov, alongside senior officials from both countries.

Ukraine’s military reports 61 front-line clashes today

In its latest war update, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces says there have been 61 “combat engagements” with Russian forces today.

The majority of the clashes occurred near Ukraine’s Pokrovske, while Russian attacks towards Hulyaipilske also intensified, according to Ukraine’s Ukrinform news agency.

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Let’s bring you up to speed:

• Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have capped off the second and final day of US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
• Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy described the talks as “constructive” and said Ukraine is open to holding further discussions as early as next week.‍
• Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Moscow is also open to further talks. Neither side gave details about potential progress reached.
• Meanwhile, about 1.2 million people are without power in Ukraine after another night of Russian aerial attacks, according to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba.
• The attacks killed at least one person and injured dozens of others across Kyiv and Kharkiv, say local authorities.
• The EU ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, described Russia’s latest assault as “terror”.
  The site of a Russian strike on the Roshen Confectionery Factory in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 24, 2026, amid the Russian invasion [Maxym Marusenko/EPA]