By Euronews with AP
Published on
•Updated
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the tripartite talks in Abu Dhabi between Russia, the US and Ukraine will focus heavily on the future of the eastern Donbas region, as efforts continue to end Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion.
The talks, which began on Friday and are to continue into Saturday, were described as productive by the White House. Meanwhile, the UAE’s foreign ministry said they were part of efforts “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis”.
As Zelenskyy commented, “Ukrainian representatives report to me almost every hour – this is important because there have not been such trilateral meetings for a long time,” he said in a video posted on social media, adding: “By now, they should already have at least some answers from Russia – the key is that Russia must be ready to end this war, the one it itself started,” and, “As for the substance of today’s discussions, it is still too early to draw conclusions.”
Friday marked the first known occasion when officials from the Trump administration held talks at the same time with both Ukrainian and Russian negotiators. Although major challenges remain and the outcome is uncertain, some observers see the meeting as progress towards an agreement.
Kremlin wants to solve territory issues
Moscow provided few details on the meeting, calling it only a “working group on security issues.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from eastern Donbas remains an “important condition” for Russia, adding that other “nuances” were also being discussed without giving further detail.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, who took part in talks with Witkoff and Kushner, said “it was reaffirmed that reaching a long-term settlement can’t be expected without solving the territorial issue.” He described the discussions with the US as “frank, constructive” and “fruitful.”
Russia’s Tass news agency said the agenda included possible buffer zones and control mechanisms.
Who is attending the Abu Dhabi talks?
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s delegation, led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, is made up of military officials. He added that Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev would separately meet Witkoff to discuss economic matters.
Washington confirmed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are attending the Abu Dhabi talks alongside Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and NATO’s top military commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich.
Ukraine is represented by Rustem Umerov, head of the national security and defence council, Andrii Hnatov, chief of the general staff, and Kyrylo Budanov, head of the presidential office.
The previous day
Meanwhile, on Thursday, US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were received in Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed a Ukraine settlement in talks which went into the early morning of Friday and in which the Kremlin said any peace deal would require Kyiv to withdraw its forces from eastern territories that Russia has illegally annexed but does not fully control.
Simualteneously on Thursday, Zelenskyy said following a meeting with Trump in Davos, that the issue on the land currently occupied is yet to be resolved, but that the peace proposals are “nearly ready”.
Zelenskyy also said he remains open to setting up a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control, adding that he raised the idea with Trump. “I think it will be positive for our business,” he told reporters.
Video editor • Lucy Davalou