Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have begun tense talks in Abu Dhabi, with territorial concessions emerging as a key point of contention. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said negotiations are focused heavily on the future of the eastern Donbas region, as officials seek a path toward ending Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The UAE foreign ministry said the talks, which began Friday and continue Saturday, aim to encourage dialogue and find political solutions to the conflict. The White House described the discussions as productive.
Ahead of the talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin held lengthy overnight discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Kremlin reiterated that any peace deal would require Ukraine to withdraw its forces from eastern territories Russia claims to have annexed, despite not fully controlling them.
After meeting US President Donald Trump in Davos, Zelenskyy said the status of Russian-occupied eastern land remains unresolved but that peace proposals are “nearly ready.” He also said he discussed with Trump the idea of creating a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control, calling it potentially beneficial for Ukrainian businesses.
This marks the first known instance of Trump administration officials meeting simultaneously with negotiators from both Ukraine and Russia. While the outcome remains uncertain, the talks are seen by some as a sign of progress.
In a late-night address, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s delegation was updating him frequently and confirmed discussions were focused on parameters for ending the war. He stressed that Russia must demonstrate genuine willingness to end a conflict it started, adding it was too early to draw conclusions.
The Kremlin described the meeting as a “working group on security issues.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Ukrainian troop withdrawal from Donbas remains a key condition, while Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov said a lasting settlement is impossible without resolving territorial disputes. Russian media reported talks may include buffer zones and control mechanisms.
Russia’s delegation is led by Adm. Igor Kostyukov, with separate economic talks involving Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Witkoff. The US delegation includes Witkoff, Kushner, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and NATO’s top military commander, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich. Ukraine’s team includes senior defense and intelligence officials.
Earlier in Davos, Zelenskyy met privately with Trump for about an hour, calling the meeting meaningful. Trump later said both sides want a deal and acknowledged that territorial boundaries remain the main obstacle.
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, though its gains have come at high military and economic cost. Ukraine faces its own challenges, including funding shortages, reliance on Western weapons, manpower losses, and widespread draft evasion.
Zelenskyy also sharply criticized European allies at the World Economic Forum, accusing them of slow decision-making, insufficient defense spending, and reluctance to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Comparing Europe’s inaction to the movie Groundhog Day, he said the continent still has not learned how to defend itself despite repeated warnings.
