New negotiations in Kiev between Ukraine and the Western allies, in the context of the tightening of Russia's position
New talks between Ukraine and its European and American partners are scheduled for Saturday in Kiev, as part of diplomatic efforts to find a deal to end the war with Russia. The talks come as Moscow has signaled it plans to take a tougher stance.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Security advisers from European states that support Kiev will meet with Ukrainian officials, while a US delegation will participate via video conference. According to President Volodymyr Zelenski, representatives from 15 countries confirmed their presence at the meeting, along with officials from the European Union and NATO.
The meeting in Kiev comes ahead of next week's summit in France, where states from the so-called “Coalition of the Will” will further discuss support for Ukraine. Zelenskiy stated that one of the central themes of the meeting is the security guarantees that the allies could offer to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement.
In December, the leader from Kiev was in Washington, where he discussed with Donald Trump the American initiative on stopping the conflict, now in its fourth year. However, several sensitive issues remain unresolved.
In parallel, Russia announced that it would “harden” its position after accusing Ukraine of a drone attack on a residence of President Vladimir Putin and a military bombardment, according to Moscow, that killed 28 civilians on New Year's Eve in an area of the Kherson region under Russian control.
Currently, Russian forces control about 19.4% of Ukraine's territory. Data from the Institute for the Study of War shows that during 2025, Russia has additionally occupied less than 1% of the country's land area. In December, the advance was 244 square kilometers, the smallest monthly advance since the spring, amid difficult weather conditions. However, the Russian offensive has intensified in the Donbas region, one of the main defense lines of the Ukrainian army.
Evacuations and changes at the peak of power
As a result of military pressure, the Ukrainian authorities decided to evacuate more than 3,000 children, together with their families, from about 40 localities located in the Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
In his New Year's message for 2026, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that a possible peace deal is “90% complete”, but stressed that the remaining differences will be decisive for the future of peace, including over territories occupied by Russia.
Negotiations are not taking place directly between Kiev and Moscow, with both sides holding separate talks with US officials. Acceptance of the current version of the agreement by Russia is considered unlikely, as it would involve giving up essential demands.
Vladimir Putin recently reiterated that Russia's goals will be achieved by military means, in case of a failure of the negotiations, while welcoming the progress of the Russian army on the front.
Domestically, Zelenskiy decided to appoint the head of the military intelligence services, Kirilo Budanov, to head the presidential administration. He replaces Andrii Iermak, who is in disgrace following a corruption scandal. Budanov, a career military man, is known for daring operations against Russia and is considered a hostile figure by Moscow.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president announced his intention to replace the minister of defense, Denîs Shmîhal, appointed in July 2025, with the current minister of digital transformation, Mîhailo Fedorov, aged 34.
The first days of 2026 were marked by new attacks from both sides. On Friday, Russian forces shelled the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, killing more than 30 people, according to local authorities.
