US envoy Witkoff holds ‘constructive’ Ukraine talks with Russia

US envoy Steve Witkoff reported that he held "productive and constructive meetings" with Kirill Dmitriev, a top economic adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Florida. These discussions occurred on a Saturday, just a day before a scheduled second round of US-mediated talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Abu Dhabi. The meetings are part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to find a resolution to the nearly four-year conflict that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine (Al Jazeera, The Hindu, France24). The second day of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi concluded without a deal, as both Ukraine and Russia expressed their openness to further dialogue. Statements following the talks did not indicate any agreements had been reached, but the discussions focused on potential parameters for ending the conflict. The negotiations took place amid ongoing Russian air strikes, which resulted in power outages affecting over one million Ukrainians during sub-zero winter temperatures (Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post). Despite the lack of a breakthrough in the negotiations, both sides remain engaged in discussions. The situation in Ukraine continues to be dire, with Russian attacks leading to significant humanitarian challenges, including mass power outages. The next round of talks is expected to take place next weekend, as both parties seek to navigate the complexities of the conflict (South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera).