Ukraine U.S. Peace Talks 2026 Move to Davos After Secret Florida Meetings

Quiet talks in Florida are shifting to the snowy peaks of Switzerland. Ukraine's top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, announced on January 18, 2026, that discussions with U.S. officials regarding a resolution to the four-year-old war will continue at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.

Ukraine U.S. Peace Talks 2026: From Florida to Davos Stage

According to Reuters, Umerov confirmed that a two-day session in Florida with Donald Trump's team—including envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—laid the groundwork for these next steps. The talks focused on critical security guarantees and a comprehensive post-war recovery plan for Ukraine. While Umerov didn't confirm any final deals, he noted that both sides agreed to maintain the momentum at the team level.

Security Blueprints and the Reality on the Ground

The diplomatic push comes as Russia continues to hammer Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Umerov reported that recent strikes have left hundreds of residential buildings without heat or electricity. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasized that these attacks prove Moscow isn't genuinely interested in a diplomatic exit. "If the Russians were seriously interested in ending the war, they would have focused on diplomacy," Zelenskiy said in his nightly address.

Nuclear Infrastructure Under Threat

The stakes couldn't be higher. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned of evidence that Russia is scouting power substations supplying nuclear plants for potential strikes. This escalation, if realized, would mark a dangerous new chapter in the conflict, even as negotiators try to find a path toward peace in the Swiss Alps.