Peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are continuing in Abu Dhabi, bringing together officials from Ukraine, Russia and the United States for an uncommon round of trilateral talks. The meetings began on Friday and are set to continue through Saturday, as the war approaches its fourth year.
Donbas at the Heart of the Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of the eastern Donbas region is a central focus of the discussions. In a video message posted online, he noted that Ukrainian negotiators are briefing him almost hourly, underscoring how unusual and significant these meetings are.
Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv is waiting for concrete answers from Moscow. He said Russia must show a genuine willingness to end the war it launched, while cautioning that it is still too early to judge whether meaningful progress has been made.
The White House described the initial round of talks as productive, while the United Arab Emirates said the meetings are part of broader efforts to encourage dialogue and identify political solutions to the conflict.
Moscow Holds Firm on Territorial Demands
The Kremlin has shared little publicly about the substance of the talks, referring to them only as a “working group on security issues.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia sees the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from eastern Donbas as a key condition for any settlement, adding that other issues were also being discussed.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said a lasting agreement would be impossible without resolving territorial questions. He described discussions with US representatives as frank and constructive. Russian state media reported that topics such as buffer zones and control mechanisms were also on the agenda.
Who’s at the Table — and What Led Up to This
Russia’s delegation in Abu Dhabi is led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov and includes senior military officials. Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to meet separately with US representatives to discuss economic issues.
The US team includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and NATO’s top military commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich. Ukraine is represented by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, armed forces chief Andrii Hnatov and Kyrylo Budanov from the presidential office.
The talks follow a busy diplomatic week. On Thursday, Witkoff and Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for lengthy discussions that stretched into Friday morning. The Kremlin said afterward that any peace deal would require Ukraine to pull back from territories Russia claims but does not fully control.
That same day, Zelenskyy said after meeting US President Donald Trump in Davos that peace proposals are nearly ready, though the question of occupied land remains unresolved. He also said he is open to creating a free trade zone in parts of eastern Ukraine still under Kyiv’s control, calling it a potential boost for business and economic recovery.
