Abu Dhabi: The second day of talks between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the United States, concluded in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Despite two days of discussions, no agreement was reached on halting the war. However, further talks are expected by the end of next week, with a U.S. official saying negotiations are likely to resume next Sunday.
In statements issued after the talks, both Moscow and Kyiv said they remain open to continued dialogue. Meanwhile, Russia carried out overnight air strikes across Ukraine, leaving more than one million Ukrainians without electricity amid freezing winter conditions.
Following the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X that the main focus of the discussions was on possible parameters to end the war. Speaking to reporters shortly after the talks, a U.S. official said further negotiations are expected to take place in Abu Dhabi next Sunday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said there was a great deal of mutual respect at the negotiating table and that the parties were genuinely looking for a solution.
First Trilateral Meeting Between Russia and Ukraine
A spokesperson for the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which hosted the meeting, said that face-to-face talks were held between Ukraine and Russia, and that the negotiating parties discussed Washington’s peace framework.
The talks in Abu Dhabi marked the first trilateral meeting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor Ukraine in 2022.
Zelensky said that all sides had agreed to report back to their respective capitals and coordinate next steps with their leaders. He praised the U.S. mediation for the meeting.
Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported that Moscow is ready to continue talks with Ukraine and the United States.
Where Did Russia–Ukraine Talks Hit a Deadlock?
The United States has stepped up efforts to end the deadliest war in Europe since World War II. This week, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Wittkoff told the annual World Economic Forum in Davos that significant progress had been made in the negotiations, with only one issue remaining. It is believed that the deadlock between Russia and Ukraine is over the Donbas region. Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including parts of eastern Donbas.
Moscow wants Ukraine to cede a large part of the region to Russia, but Zelensky has refused. Speaking in Davos, Zelensky said the dispute is entirely about territory the issue that remains unresolved. The Ukrainian president also stated that, in the event of a deal, he has reached an understanding with former U.S. President Donald Trump on future American security guarantees for Ukraine.
