Abu Dhabi (TDI): Ukrainian, US, and Russian officials are set to meet in the United Arab Emirates on Friday for high-level security talks aimed at advancing a US-drafted plan to end the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
The trilateral discussions follow a late-night meeting in Moscow between top US negotiators, led by envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov described the talks as “useful in every respect,” while noting that both sides remain committed to resolving the conflict through diplomacy, even as Russia continues military operations.
The UAE meeting will be the first session of a newly formed trilateral working group, Ushakov said. Russia’s delegation, headed by GRU military intelligence chief General Igor Kostyukov, will join the talks alongside Ukrainian officials, who will be led by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and armed forces chief of staff Lieutenant General Andriy Gnatov.
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Kyiv and Moscow remain divided over territorial issues, with Russia pressing for control of eastern Donbas, while Ukraine warns that any concession could embolden further aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the draft deal is “nearly ready” and noted commitments from the UK and France to contribute forces on the ground.
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The outcome of the UAE talks is uncertain, with it unclear whether Russian and Ukrainian officials will meet directly. Zelensky said the discussions are expected to last two days.
The negotiations come amid a backdrop of renewed Russian strikes on Kyiv, leaving thousands of buildings without electricity or heat in sub-zero temperatures. Kyiv condemned the attacks as deliberate targeting of civilians, while Russia claims its operations aim to disrupt Ukraine’s military-industrial infrastructure.
