Trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the United States of America, and the Russian Federation regarding the cessation of the war will continue next week in Abu Dhabi. This was confirmed by the special envoy of the U.S. President, Steve Witkoff.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Meetings in Abu Dhabi: Details of the Negotiations
On January 23-24, negotiations took place in the capital of the United Arab Emirates involving official delegations from Ukraine, the USA, and Russia. After the conclusion of these discussions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized their constructiveness and highlighted that the Ukrainian side is ready for further dialogue aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
According to Axios, the meetings included both a trilateral format and separate negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives without the involvement of American mediators. A representative of the UAE government reported that the discussions were held in a “constructive and positive atmosphere” and focused on unresolved issues of the proposed U.S. peace agreement. Measures to build trust for advancing towards a comprehensive agreement were also discussed separately.
Main Issues and Positions of the Parties
Informed sources report that some progress was made during the discussions regarding military aspects, particularly concerning possible troop withdrawal and monitoring of the ceasefire. At the same time, the issue of territories remains unresolved for now.
President Volodymyr Zelensky previously emphasized that the Donbas issue is key at this stage of the negotiations. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that without resolving the territorial issue outlined in the so-called “Anchorage Formula,” achieving a long-term settlement is impossible. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has not provided clarifications on what exactly is meant by this formula and insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas.
“The negotiations were very constructive, and it was agreed to continue the talks next week in Abu Dhabi. President Trump and his entire team are committed to establishing peace in this war.”
Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized in December that any potential territorial decisions must be made by the Ukrainian people—either through elections or a referendum. In response, Yuri Ushakov stated that “the entire Donbas is Russian.” As of now, part of Donbas is under the control of Ukrainian forces, and fierce battles continue on the front lines.