Russia, Ukraine conclude talks in UAE with no concrete agreements announced

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Russia, Ukraine conclude talks in UAE with no concrete agreements announced

2026-01-25 13:43 Last Updated At：19:07

The talks between Russia and Ukraine in "direct engagement" attended by a U.S. delegation concluded Saturday in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with no concrete agreements or joint statements announced following the two-day meetings.

The meeting was the first trilateral engagement since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. Facilitated by the UAE, the talks aimed to promote dialogue and explore potential political solutions to resolve the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

A UAE government spokesperson said that the talks included "direct engagement" between the two sides and were conducted in a "constructive and positive atmosphere".

The meetings were attended by U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, Russia's military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov, Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the Ukrainian President's Office, Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, as well as other senior officials from both the Russian and Ukrainian sides.

Following the conclusion of the talks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the media that Russia maintained its adherence to the basic consensus previously reached with the United States in Anchorage.

Ryabkov also pointed out that the U.S. side has yet to fulfill its commitment to release the two Russian crew members on board the oil tanker Marinera.

Witkoff on Saturday wrote on his social media X that the trilateral talks were "very constructive" and mentioned that a new round of talks is planned for next week with the location still set in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his social media X that the three parties discussed possible parameters for ending the Ukraine crisis, and also described the proceedings as "constructive".

According to Zelensky, the U.S. delegation raised the issue of potential formats for formalizing the parameters for ending the crisis, as well as security conditions required to achieve it. Zelensky said all sides agreed to report back in their capitals on each aspect of the negotiations and to coordinate further steps with their leaders.

Further meetings will take place, potentially as early as next week if there is "readiness to move forward", Zelensky said, noting that "Ukraine is ready".

According to U.S. officials, the next round of talks is set on February 1 in Abu Dhabi.

So far, Russia has not yet responded to the time of the next trilateral meeting.

Sudan conflict results in cultural relics drain

Museums and archaeological sites across Sudan have suffered drain of cultural relics, which are either damaged or looted amid the ongoing armed conflicts that have persisted in the country for nearly three years.

The country has been engulfed in a deadly conflict since April 15, 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced.

Beyond severe casualties and infrastructure damage, the conflict has been also lethal to the country's cultural heritage.

"Our museum is in a dire situation. Many cultural relics have been looted, while some have been completely destroyed or damaged to various extent. The main building, along with several important structures of the museum, was struck by rockets," said Jamal Al-Abidin, curator of the Khalifa House Museum.

Official data reveal that a total of 22 national museums were damaged or robbed and about 4,000 pieces of cultural relics have been missing in Sudan's conflict.

Al-Nazir Satti, an official with the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism, said that the loss in relics has posed a grave threat to Sudanese culture and people's identity to themselves and their history.

"Many museums have been looted and vandalized, which are among the most serious consequences of the conflict. This devastation threatens to destroy our culture, erase our history, and undermine the Sudanese people's recognition of their historical heritage and identity," said Satti.

Many of the looted cultural relics have been smuggled out of Sudan. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and archaeological experts have repeatedly expressed concerns about the loss of these artifacts and have urged the global art market not to accept relics of unknown origin from Sudan.

"We must hold these relic looters accountable and urge the international community to take actions against the theft and smuggling of these artifacts," said Sabah Al-Khair Muhammad, an archaeological expert.

On Tuesday, the Sudanese government announced that it has recovered 570 pieces of cultural relics. However, due to the impact of war, most museums in Sudan, in the plight of manpower and funding shortage, are yet to reopen. Recovering lost cultural relics and rebuilding museums and other cultural facilities remain a long-term and arduous task for the country.