Ukraine and Russia ended two days of US-brokered direct talks in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, with all parties expected to return to the United Arab Emirates for a further round of talks as early as 1 February.
After the talks concluded, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "a lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive." He added that next round could take place "as early as next week".
On the eve of the second day of talks, Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles on Ukraine, cutting off millions from electricity in sub-zero temperatures. Kyiv accused Moscow of undermining the negotiations by launching yet another "night of Russian terror".
A UAE government spokesperson said the talks, which involved top military officers from both sides, had been held in a "constructive and positive atmosphere".
Friday had marked the first known occasion when officials from the Trump administration held talks at the same time with both Ukrainian and Russian negotiators. Although major challenges remain and the outcome is uncertain, some observers see the meeting as progress towards an agreement.
Donbas region the main unresolved issue
According to Zelenskyy, "the central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war".
"The American side raised the issue of potential formats for formalizing the parameters for ending the war, as well as the security conditions required to achieve this," he added in his statement following the talks.
Moscow provided few details on the meeting, merely calling it a “working group on security issues.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from eastern Donbas remains an “important condition” for Russia, adding that other “nuances” were also being discussed without giving further detail.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, who took part in talks with Witkoff and Kushner, said “it was reaffirmed that reaching a long-term settlement can’t be expected without solving the territorial issue.” He described the discussions with the US as “frank, constructive” and “fruitful.”
Russia’s Tass news agency said the agenda included possible buffer zones and control mechanisms.
US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had headed to Abu Dhabi immediately after being received in Moscow on Thursday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they discussed a Ukraine settlement in talks which went into the early morning of Friday.
Also on Thursday, Zelenskyy said following a meeting with Trump in Davos, that the issue on the land currently occupied is yet to be resolved, but that the peace proposals are "nearly ready".
Zelenskyy also said he remains open to setting up a free trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control, adding that he raised the idea with Trump. “I think it will be positive for our business," he told reporters.
