Peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are continuing this weekend in Abu Dhabi, bringing together representatives from the United States, Ukraine and Russia. The talks come nearly four years into the war and mark an unusual moment of direct, parallel engagement among all three sides.
Donbas at the Heart of the Discussions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region is a central focus of the talks. He described the meetings as significant, noting that such trilateral discussions have been rare since the invasion began.
In a video message, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian negotiators were providing him with near-constant updates. He stressed that Kyiv expects clear answers from Moscow, adding that Russia must show genuine readiness to end the war it launched. At the same time, he cautioned that it was too early to draw firm conclusions about the substance of the talks.
The White House characterised the first day of meetings, which began on Friday, as productive. The United Arab Emirates, acting as host, said the talks are part of broader efforts to encourage dialogue and explore political solutions to the conflict.
Moscow Signals Hard Line on Territory
The Kremlin offered limited detail on the negotiations, referring to them only as a “working group on security issues.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia considers the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from eastern Donbas an essential condition for any agreement.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said long-term peace would be impossible without resolving territorial questions. He described Russia’s discussions with US officials as frank and constructive, while Russian state media reported that issues such as buffer zones and control mechanisms were also on the agenda.
Despite the diplomatic language, Moscow’s public comments suggest it remains firm on its core demands.
Who’s Involved and What Preceded the Talks
Russia’s delegation is led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov and consists largely of military officials. Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to hold separate discussions with US representatives on economic issues.
The US delegation includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, joined by 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 meetings follow talks in Moscow earlier in the week, where Witkoff and Kushner met President Vladimir Putin in discussions that stretched into Friday morning. Around the same time, Zelenskyy said after meeting US President Donald Trump in Davos that peace proposals were nearly ready, though the issue of occupied territory remains unresolved.
Zelenskyy also said he raised the idea of creating a free trade zone in parts of eastern Ukraine still under Kyiv’s control, calling it a potential boost for Ukrainian business. While major hurdles remain, some observers see the Abu Dhabi talks as a modest but notable step toward a possible settlement.
