Overview
- Ukraine, Russia and the United States held two days of talks in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23–24 that the U.S. envoy called constructive, with another meeting planned there this week, Axios reported.
- As diplomacy proceeds, Russia carried out strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv and claimed the capture of Starytsia, while Ukraine launched major attacks on Russia’s Belgorod region, according to officials and local reports.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry reported heavy Ukrainian losses in daily updates, claiming up to 415 casualties in the “Center” sector and up to 150 in the “South,” figures not independently verified in these reports.
- OSINT analyses from DeepState, Conflict Intelligence Team and Black Bird Group indicate Russia gained about 152 square kilometers in January—roughly a third of December’s total—with just 30.4 square kilometers from Jan. 19–25, the lowest weekly tally since spring 2025.
- Ukrainian outlet Strana.ua reported lawmakers are privately discussing potential compromises to end hostilities, including a withdrawal from parts of Donbas, but are reluctant to raise the issue publicly.