Trilateral talks to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine restart in Abu Dhabi – Europe live | World news
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Kremlin refuses to comment on Macron’s reported visit to Moscow by top French diplomat
Separately, The Kremlin declined to comment on media reports that French President Emmanuel Macron’s top diplomat, Emmanuel Bonne, had traveled to Moscow in recent days for secret talks with Russian counterparts.
french newspaper Express (€) And Bloomberg It was reported on Wednesday night (£) HE Bonne “held a series of rare face-to-face meetings with Russian officials” While Europe seeks closer participation in Ukrainian peace talks.”
It was learned that he met with Vladimir Putin’s foreign relations consultant, Yuri Ushakov.
The Kremlin said in a statement this morning that it would neither confirm nor deny that the talks took place. According to Reuters, “French sources love to leak information to the media.”
How close are the parties to a peace agreement on Ukraine? – analysis
Pjotr Sauer
Russian affairs correspondent
A viable path to peace remains complicated as Moscow continues to press its maximalist territorial claims against Ukraine.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, He said last week that the talks hinged on one highly contentious issue: land. The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that any peace agreement must cede the entire eastern region of Ukraine. Donbas Territory, including areas currently under Ukrainian control.
Kyiv rejected these conditions Volodymyr Zelenskyy He said he was willing to consider alternative arrangements, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from eastern regions and the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
US officials are pressuring Ukraine to give up Donbas, promising security guarantees only if Kiev accepts territorial concessions.
Even if some agreement is reached on land, other obstacles will remain. Moscow has said it will not allow the presence of European troops on Ukrainian territory, which Kiev sees as necessary for security guarantees. The Kremlin has also demanded strict limits on the size of the Ukrainian army, a condition that Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected.
Despite the wide gap between their positions, both sides often danced carefully ahead of their opponents. Donald TrumpWhile trying to appear open to peace in order not to anger the US president, he is trying to put the blame on the other side.
JD Vance is about to land in Italy for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games
In other news Air Force Two, carrying US vice president J.D. Vance, is currently approaching Milan’s Malpensa airport.
The vice president with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubiocoming to italy Attend tomorrow’s opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games.
Its existence and security arrangements sparked controversy and protests after it was revealed that agents from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or Ice, would be included in the security team.
As my colleague Sean Ingle reported, The backlash was so strong that U.S. Olympic officials also had to change the name of the athlete hosting area in Milan from “Ice House” to “Winter House.”
It was a move the American figure skater welcomed. Amber Glennhe told reporters:
“His It’s unfortunate that the term ‘ice’ isn’t something we can embrace “because of what’s going on and the consequences of what some people have done.”
Corriere della SeraThe Milan edition of reports: There will be a total of 14 aircraft in the US delegation. 300 agents have been deployed to protect Donald Trump’s number two.
Zelenskyy said 55 thousand Ukrainians were killed in the war against Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: French broadcaster France 2 Last night, the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the battlefield as a result of the country’s war with Russia was estimated at 55,000. Much more is missing.
Independent international estimates – e.g. Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington – We are talking about 100,000 to 140,000 people killed.
Zelenskyy also emphasized that Ukraine is in danger: I’m saying this “If we lose this war, we will lose our country’s independence” he warns and Putin in Russia will not stop in Ukraine and could pose a direct threat to more European countries.
“Ukraine’s neighbors understand that they will be the first victims” He said it was due to the Kremlin’s expansionist policy.
Morning opening: Trilateral talks on Ukraine war resume in Abu Dhabi
Yakup Krupa
Ukraine-Russia talks resumed this morning. After the Russian President’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev reported last night “a positive progress forward”.
“Warmongers from Europe and Britain are constantly trying to intervene in this process, constantly trying to intervene. “And the more such initiatives there are, the more we see that progress is definitely being made,” he said.
The talks continue in a tripartite consultation format, including Ukraine’s chief negotiator and the former defense minister Rustam Umerov in question.
Separately, the Polish prime minister Donald Tusk He is in Kiev today to express his solidarity with the war-torn country due to ongoing power and heat blackouts. Last week, Poland was one of the EU countries that sent heat and electricity generators to the Ukrainian capital.
His visit came a few days after the NATO secretary general Mark Rutte visited Ukraine
Separately, EU leaders Antonio Costa And Ursula von der Leyen A meeting with the French president is expected in Paris today Emmanuel MacronAbout the EU competitiveness summit to be held on 12 February.
Macron, seemingly sidelined somewhat by the growing German-Italian partnership, will want to put his ideas on the table on how to fix the bloc.
There’s a lot for us.
His Thursday, February 5, 2026, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
Good morning.
