Abu Dhabi (TDI): Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States reconvened in Abu Dhabi on Saturday for the second day of discussions on a peace plan promoted by US President Donald Trump, aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict in Ukraine.
Friday marked the first known direct meeting between Ukrainian and Russian officials on the proposal. Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said the talks focused on “the parameters for ending Russia’s war and the next steps in the negotiation process.”
The initial US draft faced strong criticism in Kyiv and across Europe for appearing too aligned with Moscow, while later versions drew objections from Russia over suggestions such as deploying European peacekeepers.
Both sides continue to grapple with the status of the eastern Donbas region, a central point of contention in efforts to end a war that has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and devastated large parts of Ukraine.
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The UAE Foreign Ministry confirmed the talks were set for two days, describing them as “part of ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.”
Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, and US envoy Steve Witkoff later held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The Abu Dhabi meeting comes as winter hardships worsen in Ukraine, with thousands in Kyiv left without heating after Russian attacks. The European Union, which has sent hundreds of generators, accused Moscow of “deliberately depriving civilians of heat.”
Further Russian strikes overnight killed one person and injured 22 in Kyiv and Kharkiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned residents to remain in shelters, describing the capital as “under a massive enemy attack.”
Despite the diplomatic push, Moscow and Kyiv remain deadlocked on territorial issues. After meeting US officials and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, the Kremlin reiterated that Russia’s demand for Ukraine to withdraw from the eastern Donbas remains unchanged.
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“Russia’s position is well known: Ukrainian forces must leave the territory of Donbas,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, adding that it is “a very important condition.” Kyiv, which controls roughly 20% of the region, has rejected these terms.
Ahead of the talks, Zelensky emphasized that territory remains a “key issue” and stressed that “not only Ukraine must have the desire to end the war and achieve full security, but a similar willingness must emerge in Russia as well.”
The Abu Dhabi meeting marks the first face-to-face encounter between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators since talks in Istanbul last summer, which only resulted in prisoner exchanges.
While Putin has repeatedly warned that Moscow will seize full control of eastern Ukraine by force if negotiations fail, a Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, insisted that Russia is “genuinely interested in resolving the conflict diplomatically,” though he added that military operations will continue until a settlement is reached.
Trump, meanwhile, has expressed optimism about the talks. On Wednesday, he said he believes Putin and Zelensky are “close to a deal” and added bluntly that failure to reach an agreement would be “stupid” on both sides.
