In a significant development in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, representatives from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia are set to convene for their first trilateral meeting since the start of the war. The highly anticipated talks are scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on Friday, following a late-night meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, former US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
The Kremlin’s diplomatic advisor, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed the upcoming meeting, stating that the discussions were “useful in every respect” and that “it was agreed that the first meeting of a trilateral working group on security issues will take place today in Abu Dhabi.” However, the full details of the talks in the United Arab Emirates have not yet been released, and it remains unclear whether Russian and Ukrainian officials will meet face-to-face.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that the discussions are expected to last for two days, with the US team, led by Witkoff and Kushner, scheduled to meet with a Russian delegation headed by Gen. Igor Kostyukov, the director of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency.
The Trump administration has been actively pushing for a peace settlement, with its envoys shuttling between Kyiv and Moscow in a flurry of negotiations. Some have raised concerns that these efforts could potentially force Ukraine into an unfavourable deal. However, President Trump has expressed optimism, stating that Putin and Zelenskyy would be “stupid” if they failed to reach an agreement.
Zelenskyy, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, acknowledged that the future status of the land currently occupied by Russia in eastern Ukraine remains unresolved, but he noted that peace proposals are “nearly ready.” Both sides have previously highlighted the issue of territory as a crucial factor in the negotiations, with Russia demanding that Ukraine surrender the 20% it still holds of the eastern Donetsk region.
Despite the challenges, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for compromise, stating, “Russian[s] have to be ready for compromises because, you know, everybody has to be ready, not only Ukraine, and this is important for us.” The Ukrainian president also mentioned that post-war security guarantees between Washington and Kyiv are ready, should a deal be reached, although they would require ratification from each country.
As the world watches closely, the upcoming trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi represent a significant step towards a potential resolution to the conflict, with all parties expressing a desire to find a diplomatic solution.
