Peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are set to continue Saturday in Abu Dhabi, bringing together officials from the United States, Ukraine and Russia. The discussions mark a rare moment of direct engagement between all three sides as the conflict nears its fourth year.
Donbas at the Heart of the Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region is a central focus of the negotiations. In a video message posted online, he said Ukrainian delegates are providing constant updates, calling the talks significant given how uncommon trilateral meetings have been during the war.
Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv is looking for concrete answers from Moscow. “Russia must be ready to end this war — the war it started,” he said, while cautioning that it remains too early to judge whether progress is being made.
The White House described the first round of talks, which began Friday, as productive. The UAE’s foreign ministry said the meetings are part of broader efforts to encourage dialogue and explore political solutions to the conflict.
Moscow Holds Firm on Territorial Demands
The Kremlin released few details, referring to the discussions 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 settlement, while acknowledging that other issues were also being discussed.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, who took part in talks with US representatives, said a lasting agreement would be impossible without resolving territorial disputes. Russian media reported that proposals involving buffer zones and monitoring mechanisms were also on the table.
Friday’s talks marked the first known instance of officials from the Trump administration engaging simultaneously with both Ukrainian and Russian negotiators — a development some observers see as a tentative step forward, despite the many unresolved obstacles.
Who’s Involved and What Comes Next
Russia’s delegation is led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov and includes senior military officials. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to hold separate discussions with US representatives focused on economic issues.
The US delegation includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alongside 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 presidential office head Kyrylo Budanov.
The Abu Dhabi talks follow a busy diplomatic push earlier in the week. On Thursday, Witkoff and Kushner met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for lengthy discussions that stretched into Friday morning. The Kremlin again said any peace deal would require Ukraine to withdraw from territories Russia claims to have annexed.
That same day, Zelenskyy said after meeting US President Donald Trump in Davos that peace proposals are “nearly ready,” though the issue of occupied land remains unresolved. He also floated the idea of establishing a free trade zone in parts of eastern Ukraine still under Kyiv’s control, saying it could help support businesses and economic recovery.
