Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the planned dates for the next round of trilateral negotiations in the United Arab Emirates. According to him, the meetings will take place on February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“Our negotiation team has just reported. The dates for the next trilateral meetings have been set: February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi. Ukraine is ready for substantive discussions, and we are interested in achieving results that bring us closer to a real and dignified end to the war. Thank you to everyone who is helping!” – noted the head of state.
Outcomes of Previous Negotiations
For the first time since the onset of the full-scale aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, trilateral negotiations took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23 and 24 between delegations from the USA, Russia, and Ukraine. The Ukrainian side was represented by high-ranking officials, including the head of the President’s Office and the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. The Russian delegation was led by the head of military intelligence, the GRU.
These negotiations aimed to find ways to end the war. However, as participants noted, a number of key issues remain unresolved.
Positions of the Parties and Prospects for Negotiations
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that during the next round of negotiations in February, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, would not participate. According to the American diplomat, one of the main unresolved issues remains the territorial question: Russia insists on the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from part of the Donetsk region that its troops still do not control.
During his visit to Vilnius on January 25, President Zelensky stated that Kyiv’s position on territorial integrity remains unchanged. He emphasized that all parties to the negotiations must be ready for compromises. Additionally, Zelensky reported full readiness for bilateral security guarantees from the U.S., and Ukraine is awaiting their signing.
Back in December, the president emphasized that any potential territorial decisions should be made by the people of Ukraine – either through elections or a referendum.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin leadership continues to ignore Western security guarantees for Ukraine and demonstrates a commitment to maximalist demands in the current war, as indicated by assessments from analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).