Ukraine-Russia talks: negotiators gather in Abu Dhabi in wake of ‘massive’ strikes on Kyiv – Europe live

<p>Both sides downplay chances of immediate breakthrough in US-brokered talks as western allies reportedly weigh new defence pact</p><p>Hello and welcome to the Europe live blog. We will be bringing you all the latest updates as <strong>Ukrainian and Russian officials meet for their second round of talks in Abu Dhabi</strong>, brokered by the Trump administration. As <strong>Pjotr Sauer </strong>explains, the talks are expected <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/04/ukraine-russia-talks-how-close-is-a-peace-deal-and-what-does-each-side-want">to mirror last month’s format</a> – but both sides have downplayed prospects of an immediate breakthrough.</p><p>Here are some of the latest major news lines to catch up on:</p><p>Ukraine’s president, <strong>Volodymyr Zelenskyy,</strong> said Moscow <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/03/thousands-without-heating-ukraine-russia-winter-attacks-before-talks">carried out a massive and “deliberate” attack</a> on Monday night into Tuesday as temperatures in Kyiv plunged to -20C. It involved a record number of 71 ballistic missiles as well as 450 drones, he said, sent to destroy energy infrastructure.</p><p>US president <strong>Donald Trump </strong>had said the new strikes did not – as Ukraine claimed – amount to a breach of Russia’s week-long commitment to hold off on striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure amid freezing winter temperatures, but Nato chief <strong>Mark Rutte </strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/04/ukraine-war-briefing-second-round-talks-abu-dhabi-russia-strike">said on Tuesday</a> that the attacks “did not “signal seriousness about peace”.</p><p>Under a proposal discussed between Ukrainian, European and US officials, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/0f26d56d-98cd-4999-8908-4a851a2de773">sources briefed on the discussions have told the Financial Times</a>, Kyiv has agreed with western allies that repeated breaches of any future ceasefire agreement from Russia would lead to a coordinated US-Europe military response.</p><p>And meanwhile, as <strong>Julian Borger </strong>reports, the New Start treaty between the US and Russia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/03/expiry-nuclear-weapons-pact-us-russia-arms-race">expires on Thursday</a>, removing the last remaining mutual limits on the world’s two biggest nuclear arsenals.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/feb/04/ukraine-russia-europe-live-eu-us-abu-dhabi-talks-latest-news-europe-live">Continue reading...</a>

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