Focus Turns to Donbas as Rare Three-Way Talks Continue
Peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are set to continue Saturday in Abu Dhabi, bringing together delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the discussions are expected to concentrate heavily on the future of the eastern Donbas region, a central flashpoint in the nearly four-year war.
Zelenskyy described the talks as significant, noting that such trilateral meetings have been rare. In a video message, he said Ukrainian negotiators were providing him with updates almost hourly. While stressing it was too early to draw firm conclusions, he said Kyiv expects clear answers from Moscow, adding that Russia must show it is prepared to end a war it began.
Cautious Optimism From Washington, Limited Detail From Moscow
The talks, which began on Friday, were described by the White House as productive. The United Arab Emirates, hosting the negotiations, said the meetings were part of broader efforts to encourage dialogue and find political solutions to the conflict.
Russia offered few specifics. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the discussions were taking place within a “working group on security issues” and reiterated that Ukraine’s withdrawal from eastern Donbas remains a key condition for Moscow. President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said any lasting settlement would require resolving territorial questions and called the talks with US officials frank and constructive. Russian media reported that buffer zones and control mechanisms were also on the agenda.
Who’s at the Table — and What Comes Next
Russia’s delegation is led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov and includes senior military officials, while Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to hold separate economic discussions with US representatives. The American delegation includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alongside senior defence officials and NATO’s top military commander. Ukraine is represented by senior figures from its security, defence and presidential offices.
The Abu Dhabi meetings follow lengthy talks in Moscow earlier in the week between Putin and Trump’s envoys, where the Kremlin again insisted that any peace deal would require Ukraine to leave territories Russia claims but does not fully control. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said after meeting Trump in Davos that peace proposals are nearly ready, though the issue of occupied land remains unresolved. He also floated the idea of a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control, calling it a potentially positive step for Ukrainian business.
