Russia, Ukraine US begin trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi

Russia, Ukraine and the United States are holding direct trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi for the first time on January 23.

Moscow, however, has continued its attacks on energy infrastructure and residential areas across Ukraine, showing no sign of easing military pressure despite the diplomatic engagement, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

These are the first such talks since February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the situation in Donbas will be a central topic in the first-ever trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi. 

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia’s condition for participating in the talks is the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas. He added that Russia will be represented exclusively by military officials at the Abu Dhabi meeting.

The Ukrainian delegation has also been expanded. It includes Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Rustem Umerov, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov, his deputy Serhiy Kyslytsia, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Andriy Hnatov, leader of the “Servant of the People” parliamentary faction David Arakhamia, and Ukrainian Defence Intelligence representative Vadym Skibitsky.

Russia and the United States held talks in Riyadh in February 2025, their first in‑person meeting on Ukraine‑related diplomacy since the 2022 invasion. These discussions focused on restoring diplomatic ties, addressing issues affecting their relations and setting up mechanisms for future negotiations, but Ukraine was not included at that stage.

In these Riyadh talks, U.S. and Russian officials agreed to begin “working on a path” towards ending the war and to restore fully staffed embassies as part of diplomatic engagement efforts.

By Aghakazim Guliyev