Zelensky warns of massive Russian strike ahead of peace talks

Thursday 29 January 2026 - 14:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Zelensky warns of massive Russian strike ahead of peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned on January 28 that intelligence reports point to Russia gearing up for another massive assault just before trilateral peace negotiations set for February 1 in Abu Dhabi. He argued that ongoing Russian attacks undermine diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict.

In a video address on social media, Zelensky stressed that the United States, Europe, and all partners must recognize how each Russian strike erodes trust in diplomatic channels. The warning came hours after Russian drones killed three civilians in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region overnight: a 62-year-old man and two women aged 26 and 50 in the town of Vilniansk.

The upcoming talks, mediated by the United States between Russia, Ukraine, and Washington, follow initial sessions on January 23 and 24 that all sides described as constructive. Yet progress stalls over territorial disputes. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the status of Donetsk oblast remains the key unresolved issue. Russia demands Ukraine cede the roughly 20 percent of the region it still holds, despite Moscow's control over much of the broader Donbass area without full military conquest.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Russia of not treating the negotiations seriously, noting that Moscow dispatched military representatives lacking authority to broker peace. She urged ramped-up pressure on Russia, claiming it seeks to bombard and freeze Ukrainians into submission.

These developments align with a Center for Strategic and International Studies report projecting combined war casualties could hit two million by spring. It estimates Russian losses at 1.2 million, including up to 325,000 deaths, the heaviest for a major power since World War II. Ukraine's toll ranges from 500,000 to 600,000 casualties, with as many as 140,000 fatalities. The Kremlin dismissed the findings as unreliable.

France pledged further military aid after a call between Zelensky and President Emmanuel Macron, including electric generators to counter energy shortages from Russian strikes, plus aircraft, missiles for air defense systems, and airstrike bombs. Zelensky highlighted Kyiv's dire heating and power crisis following recent barrages.