In a significant escalation of diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates.
The announcement follows a high-profile meeting between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, reports BBC.
While Trump characterized the meeting as productive, US envoy Steve Witkoff – accompanied by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – traveled to Moscow for direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, the future status of eastern Ukraine remains the primary obstacle to a definitive peace deal. Before departing Davos for Moscow, Witkoff expressed optimism, stating that negotiators have narrowed the conflict down to “one issue” that he believes is solvable.
Zelensky later identified this core issue as the ownership and status of the land, specifically the industrial heartland of Donbas.
“It’s all about the land. This is the issue which is not solved yet,” Zelensky told reporters, suggesting that the upcoming talks in the Emirates could provide various “variants” for a resolution.
The framework for the negotiations appears to be a 20-point U.S. plan, which Zelensky previously indicated was approximately 90% finalized,. Key elements of the proposal for Donbas include –
• The creation of a demilitarized and free economic zone.
• Security guarantees for Kyiv in exchange for the zone’s establishment.
• A proposal by Zelensky to withdraw Ukrainian troops by up to 40km (25 miles) from controlled areas in the Donetsk region, provided Russia reciprocates the movement.
Zelensky emphasized that any final agreement would be contingent on future US security guarantees, noting that such a deal would require ratification by both the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament.
While acknowledging that a “Coalition of the Willing” led by the UK and France has committed to monitoring a potential deal, Zelensky asserted that “no security guarantees work without the US”.
During his address in Davos, the Ukrainian leader also took the opportunity to criticize European allies, citing a lack of “political will” to take decisive action against Russia. He contrasted this with the US approach under Trump, suggesting that internal arguments have prevented Europe from finding honest solutions.
The diplomatic push comes as Ukraine faces its most brutal winter since the full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago.
Russian strikes on power infrastructure have left significant portions of Kyiv without heating, water, or electricity, forcing thousands of residents to endure freezing temperatures in apartment blocks without utilities.
While US officials remain hopeful, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remained cautious, confirming that discussions with American envoys would continue but refusing to echo Witkoff’s optimism regarding an immediate breakthrough.
The Ukrainian delegation for the upcoming UAE talks is expected to include high-ranking officials such as Rustem Umerov, head of the national security council, and Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the President’s office.
