Ukraine war latest: Trump says he’ll meet Zelenskyy at Davos today – but Ukrainian said to still be in Kyiv

While the Kremlin is for the first time holding direct peace talks with the US and Ukraine, it has shown no signs that it’s willing to halt its bombings of civilian infrastructure.

Until a diplomatic solution is achieved, Russia would “continue to consistently pursue the objectives of the special military ‌operation”, said Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin aide, in last night’s statement.

“This is especially true on the battlefield, where the Russian armed forces hold the strategic initiative.”

Overnight, Russia fired about 101 drones at Ukraine, 76 of which were shot down, while 19 struck 12 locations, according to Ukraine’s air force.

Putin wants the last 20%

Ushakov reiterated that “without resolving the territorial issue” in line with what Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed during last year’s meeting in Alaska, there would be no “long-term settlement”.

A key stumbling block is Putin’s demand that Ukraine
surrender the 20% ‍it still holds of the eastern region of
Donetsk. 

Zelenskyy has refused to give up land that Ukraine has
successfully defended at great cost over the last few years.