Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are set to convene in Abu Dhabi on Friday for rare three-way talks aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale war against Ukraine, with the future of eastern Ukrainian territory emerging as the most contentious issue on the agenda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the status of the Donbas region—parts of which are currently occupied by Russian forces—will be a central focus of the discussions. The talks follow a flurry of high-level diplomacy, including marathon overnight meetings in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Kremlin has maintained a firm position, insisting that any lasting peace agreement would require Ukraine to withdraw troops from areas in eastern Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed, despite never gaining full control over them. Kyiv and its allies reject the legality of those claims, calling the annexations a violation of international law.
Zelenskyy, speaking after meeting Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, said peace proposals are “nearly ready” but acknowledged that territorial questions remain unresolved. He reiterated his openness to exploring an economic framework for eastern Ukraine, including the possibility of a free trade zone under Ukrainian sovereignty, arguing that such a move could help revive regional business and investment.
Friday’s meeting marks the first publicly known instance in which representatives of the Trump administration are engaging simultaneously with negotiators from both Kyiv and Moscow. While expectations remain cautious, analysts view the talks as a potential signal of incremental progress after months of stalled diplomacy.
Russian officials have offered few specifics about their delegation’s mandate, describing the Abu Dhabi session as a working-level meeting focused on security issues. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian team, led by senior military officials, could extend discussions into Saturday if needed. Separately, Russian and U.S. envoys are expected to hold parallel talks on economic matters.
Behind the scenes, Putin’s advisers have stressed that territorial disputes must be addressed before any durable settlement can be reached. Those messages were reinforced during late-night talks in Moscow with Trump’s representatives, which Russian officials characterized as candid and constructive.
Trump, for his part, has said both Putin and Zelenskyy appear willing to make concessions to end the conflict, though he acknowledged that borders and territorial boundaries remain the principal obstacles—much as they have been throughout months of intermittent negotiations.
The war has taken a heavy toll on both sides. Russia controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, but its advances along the sprawling front line have come at significant human and economic cost, compounded by international sanctions. Ukraine, meanwhile, continues to face financial strain, manpower shortages, and reliance on Western military support, even as it expands domestic arms production.
Amid the diplomatic push, Zelenskyy has sharpened his criticism of European allies, accusing them of slow and fragmented decision-making. In a speech in Davos, he urged Europe to take a more decisive role in its own defense and in supporting Ukraine, warning that repeated delays risk emboldening Moscow.
As talks open in Abu Dhabi, expectations remain tempered. Yet the convergence of Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. officials at the same table underscores the growing urgency to find a pathway—however narrow—toward ending one of Europe’s most destabilizing conflicts in decades.
