Territory at centre as Ukraine, US, Russia meet for rare talks, Zelenskyy says

Diplomatic teams from Ukraine, the United States, and Russia met in Abu Dhabi on January 23 for rare trilateral talks, with an initial exchange already having taken place, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

“Ukrainian representatives are reporting to me almost hourly — they are currently in the Emirates, where Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations are gathered, and a conversation has already taken place. This is important because there have not been such trilateral meetings for a long time,” Zelenskyy said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

According to the president, representatives of the three countries are discussing the parameters for ending the war in Ukraine. He stressed that Ukrainian negotiators must obtain clear responses from Moscow, adding that Russia must be prepared “to end the war it started.”

“Ukraine’s positions are clear. I have defined the framework for dialogue for our delegation,” Zelenskyy said. “The delegation is constantly in touch — Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, David Arakhamia, Sergiy Kyslytsya. Tomorrow, General Hnatov, the Chief of the General Staff, and HRU representative Skibitskyi will also join the talks.”

Zelenskyy cautioned that it was too early to draw conclusions about the substance of the negotiations. At the same time, he emphasized that a genuine desire to end the war is essential not only for Ukraine but also for Russia.

The president said that territorial issues — particularly the status of Donbas — would be a central focus of the Abu Dhabi talks.

Russia has previously stated that a peace settlement in Ukraine would be impossible without resolving territorial questions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian forces must withdraw from Donbas, describing this as a key condition for the Russian side.

Earlier on January 23, Zelenskyy approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation for the trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi. The delegation is headed by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council.

In addition, Zelenskyy held consultations with the Ukrainian delegation in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the talks with the United States and Russia.

By Vafa Guliyeva