Peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are set to continue on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, bringing together delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States. The rare three-way talks come as the war approaches its fourth year, with cautious optimism mixed with deep uncertainty.
Donbas Takes Centre Stage
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the discussions are largely focused on the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, a key flashpoint since the conflict began. Speaking in a video message, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian negotiators were updating him “almost every hour,” stressing how unusual and significant these trilateral talks are.
He added that Kyiv expects clear signals from Moscow. “The key is that Russia must be ready to end this war — the war it started,” Zelenskyy said, while cautioning that it was still too early to draw firm conclusions from the discussions.
The White House described the first day of talks, which began on Friday, as productive. The UAE’s foreign ministry said the meetings were part of broader efforts to encourage dialogue and work toward a political solution.
Russia Stands Firm on Territory
The Kremlin offered few details, referring to the talks only as a “working group on security issues.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia views the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from eastern Donbas as a key condition for any settlement.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, who took part in parallel talks with US officials, said a lasting agreement would not be possible without resolving territorial issues. Russian state media reported that discussions also touched on buffer zones and potential control mechanisms.
While Moscow portrayed the talks as constructive, its public stance suggested little movement on its core demands, particularly over territory Russia has illegally annexed but does not fully control.
Who’s at the Table — and What Comes Next
Russia’s delegation is led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov and includes senior military figures. Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to hold separate talks with US representatives on economic matters.
The US delegation 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 Abu Dhabi talks follow a busy diplomatic week. On Thursday, Witkoff and Kushner met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for lengthy discussions, where the Kremlin again insisted any peace deal would require Ukraine to withdraw from occupied eastern territories. That same day, Zelenskyy said after meeting US President Donald Trump in Davos that peace proposals were “nearly ready,” though the issue of occupied land remains unresolved.
Zelenskyy also floated the idea of creating a free trade zone in parts of eastern Ukraine still under Kyiv’s control, saying it could boost business and economic recovery.
While major obstacles remain, the fact that all three sides are talking at the same time is being viewed by some observers as a small but notable step toward a potential breakthrough.
