Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week
Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from January 26 - February 1. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week.
In the coming days, international attention will be focused on the trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, scheduled for January 23–24. These will be the first talks in a trilateral format since the start of the full-scale war.
On the eve of the talks, Donald Trump met with Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Following the meeting, Trump stated that Ukraine is ready to sign a peace agreement.
At the same time, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held separate meetings with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The purpose of the meeting was to convey the outcomes of the Davos talks. Russia continues to insist on adherence to so-called “territorial arrangements,” but hopes were raised by Zelensky’s voice note comments to journalists on Jan 23. Zelensky noted that serious conversations were happening over the “modalities” of the Donbas issue.
Learn more about peace negotiations developments and the reasons behind Moscow’s delay in making any decisions in the latest Weekly Report by KI Insights.
The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council is set to convene on January 29, with the situation in Ukraine listed as the first item on the agenda. Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, is scheduled to address the meeting via video link.
The EU’s role in potential peace negotiations remains unclear, particularly amid heightened tensions with Donald Trump over Greenland. Speaking in Davos, Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the lack of initiative from the European Union and urged its members to unite and assume decisive responsibility.
We explore the situation in Greenland and the erosion of international norms in the world in the new episode of the Ukraine Insights podcast. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
The Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, expects to submit a new $8.1 billion lending program for Ukraine for board approval in the coming weeks. Among the IMF’s most significant conditions remains the removal of VAT exemptions on consumer goods.
The winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is scheduled to take place from January 26 to 30. Debates on the situation in Ukraine are set for January 27, with a report to be presented by the Italian delegation. Other highlights of the session include discussions on the situation in Greenland and Gaza, as well as addresses by Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
The National Bank of Ukraine is scheduled to publish its decision on the key policy rate on January 29. Since March this year, the rate has remained at 15.5 %. According to the NBU’s forecast, the rate is expected to gradually decline to about 12.7 % in 2026. Inflation slowed to 8% in December, continuing its downward trend since a peak of 15.9% in May 2025.
Ukraine will continue to grapple with an energy crisis caused by ongoing Russian attacks. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal described January 22 as “the most difficult day for the energy system” since 2022. In Kyiv, up to a quarter of residential buildings remain without heating. Mayor Vitali Klitschko has once again urged residents to leave the capital if possible. Further attacks on energy infrastructure are expected.
At the same time, weather conditions in Ukraine are forecast to improve slightly next week, with temperatures in Kyiv expected to rise to around +1°C.
Next week, on January 29, Ukraine will commemorate the Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of Kruty. On this day in 1918, a heroic battle took place in which Ukrainian students and cadets stood against advancing Bolshevik forces, becoming a lasting symbol of resistance in Ukraine’s struggle for independence.
Events and Milestones:
Next week:
- 30–31 January. Cambridge, MA, United States. Offline conference: Solidarity Within and Beyond Ukraine. Academic and public conference examining the shifting dynamics of global solidarity with Ukraine amid Russia’s war. More details & registration here.
- 31 January. Kyiv, Ukraine. Offline event: Field-Testing Day by EDTH Kyiv. Field-testing event bringing together 5–8 early-stage startups (TRL 1–4) to demonstrate and validate core drone and defense technologies at a dedicated site in Kyiv, with testing conditions of up to 4 km altitude and a 5 km radius in a controlled, safe environment. Register here.
Further ahead:
- 2–7 February. Washington, D.C., United States. Offline event: Ukrainian Week 2026. One of the most significant international initiatives organized by a coalition of civic organizations and Evangelical churches from the United States and Ukraine. More details here.
- 4 February. Washington, D.C., United States. Offline event: U.S.-Ukraine Business Forum 2026: Innovation and Regional Development by USUBC. Annual forum during Ukrainian Week in Washington, D.C., bringing together Ukrainian business and government leaders with the U.S. private sector to discuss Ukraine’s recovery and long-term economic development. Register here.
- 17–19 February, Orlando, USA. Offline event: NAHB International Builders’ Show 2026 (IBS 2026). One of the world’s largest residential construction exhibitions, bringing together global manufacturers, developers, suppliers, and innovators to showcase solutions, build partnerships, and expand international market opportunities. Register here.
- 19–20 February, Kyiv, Ukraine. Offline event: Kyiv International Cyber Resilience Forum 2026. Technology and cybersecurity forum for Ukraine and the CEE region focused on strengthening cyber resilience and digital security. Register here.
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