The President of Ukraine stated that the meetings allowed for the discussion of concrete parameters for ending the war and expressed his country's readiness for further dialogue, which could take place next week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky affirmed that the talks held in Abu Dhabi between representatives of his country, Russia, and the United States "were constructive" and allowed for the discussion of concrete parameters for ending the war.
The meeting, which took place over two days in the United Arab Emirates, brought together military and diplomatic delegations from the three countries.
During the second round of negotiations, the Ukrainian delegation was headed by Rustem Umerov, Minister of Defense, along with high-ranking military and diplomatic officials such as Kyrylo Budanov, Andrii Hnatov, Davyd Arakhamiia, Sergiy Kyslytsya, and Vadym Skibitskyi. The US delegation included Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Dan Driscoll, Alexus Grynkewich, and Josh Gruenbaum. The Russian delegation included representatives from its military intelligence and armed forces.
The main focus of the discussions was the definition of possible parameters for ending the armed conflict that Ukraine has been experiencing since the Russian invasion in 2022. Zelensky emphasized that he particularly valued the understanding shown regarding "the need for the United States to oversee and support the process to achieve effective peace and guarantee genuine security."
"The American side raised the issue of possible formats for formalizing the parameters for ending the war, as well as the necessary security conditions to achieve this," the Ukrainian head of state detailed.
At the end of the round, the three delegations agreed to inform their respective governments about the progress made and coordinate the next steps with their leaders.
Zelensky indicated that "the military representatives identified a list of topics for a possible next meeting," and stated that Ukraine remains ready for further talks, which could take place next week.
The Ukrainian president thanked the United Arab Emirates for its mediation and the president's willingness to host future meetings. “Ukraine is working for peace and security. Thank you to everyone who is cooperating,” Zelensky concluded in his official statement.
The trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi are taking place at a particularly difficult time for Ukraine, whose energy grid has been severely damaged by a series of Russian attacks, causing massive power and heating outages amidst extreme winter temperatures, especially in Kyiv.
During the first year of the conflict, in 2022, and on several occasions throughout 2025 in Istanbul, Russians and Ukrainians held direct negotiations, although these contacts only resulted in specific agreements for the exchange of prisoners and the remains of soldiers.
This week's talks are taking place far from Europe and without the presence of European Union countries, which fear that Washington will pressure Kyiv to accept a deal considered too favorable to Moscow. Russia has consistently criticized European involvement in the negotiations.
The recent bombings left at least one dead and four wounded in the capital between Friday night and Saturday, while the thermometer registered -10°C, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. In Kharkiv, another attack with 25 Russian drones injured 11 people.
On the military front, Ukrainian troops have suffered nearly two years of setbacks against a larger and better-armed adversary, in a context where Kyiv largely depends on financial and military support from the West.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized on Friday: “The Ukrainian Armed Forces must leave Donbas, they must withdraw. This is a very important condition.” He added that “without a solution to the territorial issue (...) it makes no sense to expect the conclusion of a long-term agreement.”
For his part, President Trump has repeatedly pressured Ukraine to accept terms that Kyiv considers a capitulation. Last Wednesday, Trump expressed his conviction that Putin and Zelensky are close to an agreement. “I think they’re at a point where they can make a deal. And if they don’t, they’re stupid—that goes for both of them,” the US president declared. In this regard, Russian advisor Yuri Ushakov assured that Moscow "is genuinely interested in resolving the war through diplomatic means," but warned that until that happens, "Russia will continue to achieve its objectives on the battlefield."
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