Russian, Ukrainian officials to meet in Abu Dhabi for talks on ending war

DAVOS - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that Ukrainian and Russian teams will hold their first trilateral meeting with US officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The talks are scheduled to take place over two days, on Friday and Saturday in Abu Dhabi. This development marks a significant diplomatic milestone in efforts to end Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, which began with Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022. It represents the first time officials from all three countries - Ukraine, Russia, and the United States - will sit together in direct trilateral format since the conflict escalated.

Zelenskyy made the revelation during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The statement came shortly after he held a closed-door meeting with US President Donald Trump, which both leaders described as positive and productive.

The Ukrainian President characterized the discussions with Trump as "productive and meaningful," while Trump called them "very good."

In his remarks, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of compromise from all sides, stating that "everybody has to be ready to make compromises" and specifically noting that "Russians have to be ready for compromises."

He described the upcoming UAE talks as "the first trilateral meeting in the Emirates," adding that it would occur "tomorrow and the day after tomorrow."

Broader diplomatic push

The trilateral meeting follows intensive shuttle diplomacy by US envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have been engaging with both Kyiv and Moscow. Reports indicate that US officials were heading to Moscow following the Davos events to continue discussions with Russian leadership.

Zelenskyy highlighted that peace documents are nearing completion, with a focus on postwar security guarantees for Ukraine, economic reconstruction, and mechanisms to deter future aggression.

He stressed that a document on US security guarantees for Ukraine is essentially finalized but will only be signed after the war ends. Ukraine and the US are also preparing to propose elements like an energy ceasefire during the talks. The UAE has emerged as a neutral venue for such discussions, leveraging its history of hosting sensitive international negotiations.