Tripartite negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States resumed on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, aiming to find a path toward ending Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the discussions would focus heavily on the future of the eastern Donbas region, a key flashpoint in the conflict.
Zelenskyy Stresses Progress and Caution
Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of these trilateral talks, noting that Ukrainian representatives were updating him almost hourly. “There haven’t been such meetings for a long time,” he said in a social media video. He added that while answers from Russia are expected, it is too early to draw conclusions.
The White House described the initial day of talks as productive, while the UAE’s foreign ministry framed the meetings as part of ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis. Observers noted that Friday marked the first time US officials met simultaneously with both Ukrainian and Russian negotiators, a step seen by some as cautious progress toward a settlement.
Moscow Signals Territorial Demands
Russia provided limited details on the talks, describing them only as a “working group on security issues.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from eastern Donbas remains a key condition for Russia. Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov described the discussions with the US as “frank, constructive and fruitful,” but stressed that resolving territorial disputes is essential for any long-term settlement. Russian media reported that the agenda included potential buffer zones and mechanisms to monitor compliance.
Delegations and Prior Meetings
Russia’s delegation is led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov and includes senior military officials, while Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev is scheduled to meet US representatives on economic matters. The US team includes envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and NATO’s top commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich. Ukraine is represented by Rustem Umerov, Andrii Hnatov, and Kyrylo Budanov.
The Abu Dhabi talks follow a visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow, where they met President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin indicated that any peace deal would require Kyiv to withdraw from Russian-claimed territories that remain under partial Ukrainian control. Zelenskyy, speaking after a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Davos, said proposals for peace are “nearly ready” and that he is open to creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s authority, calling it potentially beneficial for business and reconstruction.
