ABU DHABI, UAE, January 24 — Russian, Ukrainian and United States negotiators are set to hold high-stakes talks in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, marking the first meeting involving all three countries since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.
The Kremlin confirmed that Russian officials will attend the meeting in Abu Dhabi, which follows a late-night discussion between President Vladimir Putin and senior US envoys in Moscow. Notably, Russia described that engagement as “useful in every respect,” although it stressed that a durable peace agreement remains impossible without resolving territorial disputes.
Territory at the Centre of Negotiations
According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the Moscow meeting was “substantive, constructive and very frank.” However, he reiterated that Russia will continue its military campaign until territorial issues are settled.
“Without resolving the territorial question, there is no hope of achieving long-term peace,” Ushakov said, referring to a framework discussed during a previous Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, emphasised that land remains the core unresolved issue.
“It’s all about the land. This is the issue that is not solved yet,” Zelensky told reporters, adding that Russia must also be prepared to compromise, not only Ukraine.
US Envoys, Trump Allies Involved
Present at Thursday’s Moscow talks were three US representatives, including investment envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Witkoff previously said Russia had shown willingness to allow “robust” Western security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential settlement, according to reporting by Reuters.
Additionally, Zelensky revealed that a 20-point US peace plan is now 90 per cent complete, although Kyiv and Moscow still sharply disagree on the future of eastern Ukraine.
Donbas and Demilitarisation Proposal
One major sticking point remains Donbas, where Russia is demanding Ukraine relinquish control of areas it still holds, including about 25 per cent of Donetsk region.
Nevertheless, Zelensky has proposed a mutual troop withdrawal of up to 40 kilometres, which would create a demilitarised free economic zone, provided Russia agrees to do the same.
Under the US proposal, Donbas would become a neutral industrial zone, while Ukraine would receive binding international security guarantees.
Who Is at the Table?
On the Ukrainian side, the delegation includes:
- Rustem Umerov, head of the National Security and Defence Council
- Kyrylo Budanov, intelligence chief
- David Arakhamia, lead negotiator
- Andrii Hnatov, chief of general staff
Meanwhile, Russia’s team will be led by General Igor Kostyukov, head of the GRU military intelligence agency. Separately, Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev will meet US officials to discuss economic matters.
Other Obstacles Remain
Beyond territory, control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, seized by Russia in 2022, remains unresolved. Additionally, Zelensky confirmed that any agreement on US security guarantees would require approval by both the US Congress and Ukraine’s parliament.
Earlier this week, Zelensky briefly considered cancelling his Davos trip due to Russian strikes on Kyiv’s power infrastructure, which left large parts of the capital without electricity, water and heating during one of the harshest winters of the war.
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