Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia are meeting in Abu Dhabi on Friday for their first trilateral talks since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The discussions mark a significant diplomatic step toward exploring a possible path to ending the war.
The meeting follows recent high-level talks in Moscow involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior US representatives. It was subsequently agreed that a trilateral working group focused on security issues would convene in the United Arab Emirates. Officials have not disclosed the full agenda, and it remains unclear whether Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet directly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the talks are expected to last two days and that peace proposals are close to being finalized, though key issues remain unresolved. These include the status of territories occupied by Russian forces, Ukraine’s future security guarantees, and Russia’s opposition to Ukraine’s Nato ambitions.
Territorial control remains a central sticking point, with Moscow demanding concessions in eastern Ukraine and Kyiv maintaining that it will not surrender land it has defended since 2022. Despite these challenges, all sides have indicated a willingness to continue negotiations aimed at reaching a settlement.