Negotiations among delegations from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine have begun in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking the first formal trilateral talks among the three parties since the start of the war in Ukraine nearly 4 years ago.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the talks on Friday, January 23, saying the discussions in Abu Dhabi will run for two days and aim to advance dialogue and identify political solutions to the conflict triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In a statement, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the country’s role in hosting the talks.
“His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the UAE’s hosting of trilateral talks bringing together representatives of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in Abu Dhabi. His Highness expressed his hope that these discussions would contribute to tangible steps toward ending a crisis that has persisted for nearly four years and resulted in immense humanitarian suffering.”
Ukraine-Russia-U.S negotiations begin
Sheikh Abdullah said hosting the talks reflects international confidence in the UAE’s diplomatic role and its approach to conflict mediation. He also commended U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating the talks.
“His Highness affirmed that hosting these talks reflects the international community’s confidence in the UAE’s leading role and its steadfast approach to supporting peace and transforming challenges into meaningful opportunities for the peoples of both countries and the wider region,” the statement adds.
The UAE Foreign Affairs Minister said his country maintains strong relations with all three parties, enabling it to act as a trusted host at a critical moment.
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The talks come amid mounting U.S. pressure on Ukraine to reach a peace deal, with Russia insisting that Kyiv cede the remaining parts of the eastern Donbas region still under Ukrainian control as a condition for ending the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the territorial dispute would be central to the discussions in Abu Dhabi. He made the remarks after holding talks with President Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which both leaders described as positive.
“The question of Donbas is key. It will be discussed how the three sides … see this in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow.”
Russia currently occupies most of Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions Moscow claimed to annex in 2022 following referendums rejected by Kyiv and Western governments. Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected demands to surrender territory that Russian forces have failed to capture after years of fighting.
Russia’s position remains unchanged
A source close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Moscow views a so-called “Anchorage formula”, reportedly discussed by Presidents Trump and Vladimir Putin last year, as requiring Russian control of all Donbas while freezing current front lines elsewhere in eastern and southern Ukraine.
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The Abu Dhabi talks are being held at the negotiator level, a format Zelenskyy described as unprecedented since the war began.
Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Ukraine’s delegation by phone and that the team was prepared to adapt to the nature of the dialogue.
“The framework of the talks and the preferable result were discussed during the call… and the entire team knows what to do,” he said.
Russia’s delegation is being led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU), while Ukraine’s team is headed by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. The U.S. delegation includes Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum.
According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the talks build on the UAE’s growing mediation role in the conflict.
Sheikh Abdullah highlighted that the UAE has successfully facilitated 17 mediation efforts for prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in the release of 4,641 detainees.
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