Translated with AI
Two-day trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States concluded in Abu Dhabi. The main topic of the meeting was the territorial settlement and a path to ending the war in Donbas, TASS reports.
The talks began on Friday, January 23, in the afternoon, and continued until Saturday, January 24. Ukrainian sources described the meetings as "positive" and "constructive."
The Ukrainian side was led by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, and the delegation also included other representatives of official bodies. The US side was represented by Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Secretary of the Army and Special Envoy for Ukraine Dan Driscoll. The Russian delegation was led by Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) Igor Kostyukov. The Russian group consisted exclusively of representatives of the Ministry of Defense; the identities of the delegation members were not officially disclosed, but photographs from the event identified GRU First Deputy Chief of Information Alexander Zorin and translator Ilya Kurepov.
The negotiations took place in various formats, including meetings of individual working groups. As noted by the Office of the President of Ukraine, the discussions were dynamic, including informal meetings and joint lunches, which allowed the parties to discuss all issues in detail. A representative of the UAE government emphasized that the Russian and Ukrainian delegations actively interacted directly.
Following the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that this was the first two-day negotiation in a long time, during which a wide range of issues were discussed. "The conversations were constructive, and many topics were discussed," he noted. "The main topic was Donbas and possible parameters for ending the war." Zelenskyy added that the parties agreed to report back to their respective capitals on the results of the talks and coordinate further steps with their respective leaders. Ukraine is ready for further meetings, including next week.
Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced that trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi are planned to continue next week. According to Axios, the next meeting is scheduled for February 1. Witkoff emphasized that the talks were very constructive and that agreements were reached to continue the dialogue, and that President Trump and his team are committed to establishing peace and ending the war.
According to American officials, all key issues were discussed during the meeting: Russian territorial claims in Donbas, the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and measures to de-escalate the conflict, which will consolidate the cessation of hostilities and prevent their resumption.
American representatives noted that the atmosphere during the talks was positive and constructive, with the parties showing mutual respect and actively seeking solutions. At the end of the second day, the delegations shared a luncheon, which, according to one American official, "felt almost like a friendly meeting," engendering a sense of hope for progress.
The trilateral participants emphasized that the meeting in Abu Dhabi was an important step towards the next stage of the negotiation process, including the possibility of holding higher-level meetings in Moscow or Kyiv if progress is achieved at the next trilateral meeting.
Thus, the talks in Abu Dhabi opened the way for continued dialogue between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States aimed at finding parameters for ending the war and ensuring long-term stability in the region.
