Tripartite negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States continue in Abu Dhabi, aiming to find a resolution to Russia’s nearly four-year invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the discussions will focus on the future of the eastern Donbas region, a central point of the conflict.
Productive Discussions Underway
The talks, which began Friday and are set to continue Saturday, were described by the White House as productive. The UAE foreign ministry framed the meetings as part of efforts “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.” Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the trilateral talks, noting that Ukrainian representatives update him almost hourly. “By now, they should already have at least some answers from Russia – the key is that Russia must be ready to end this war, the one it itself started,” he said.
Observers highlighted that this is the first known occasion when officials from the Trump administration have held meetings with both Ukrainian and Russian negotiators simultaneously, signaling cautious progress despite major challenges.
Russia Emphasizes Territorial Demands
Moscow offered few details, calling the discussions a “working group on security issues.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russian conditions include the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from eastern Donbas, while Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov described the talks with US officials as “frank, constructive, and fruitful.” The Russian agenda reportedly also considered buffer zones and control mechanisms.
Delegations and Next Steps
Russia’s delegation, led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, is composed mainly of military officials, with Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev meeting separately on economic matters. The US team includes envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and NATO’s top military commander, General Alexus Grynkewich. Ukraine is represented by Rustem Umerov, Andrii Hnatov, and Kyrylo Budanov.
The meetings follow earlier talks in Moscow, where US envoys met with President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin stated that any settlement would require Kyiv to withdraw from annexed eastern territories. Zelenskyy also expressed openness to creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control, saying it could benefit Ukrainian businesses.
