Envoy: US, Russia, Ukraine to continue talks in UAE next week

The US, Russia, and Ukraine will continue trilateral talks to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in the United Arab Emirates next week, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has said.

"... plans were made to continue conversations next week in Abu Dhabi. President Trump and his entire team are dedicated to bringing peace to this war," Witkoff wrote on X, Caliber.Az reports.

The latest round of the talks took place on January 23–24, 2026, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), hosted by the UAE government. US officials, including Witkoff, described the discussions as "very constructive" and "productive," with progress noted despite no immediate agreements or breakthroughs being announced. President Zelenskyy also characterised them positively, while Russian officials have maintained their long-standing demands, including territorial concessions from Ukraine. 

The talks focused on core issues such as territorial control, security guarantees potentially involving US and European assurances for Ukraine's future defence, military de-escalation, and post-war reconstruction. They occurred amid continued fighting on the ground, including Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities during the meetings, which Ukrainian officials criticised as undermining the process.

By Khagan Isayev