Russia, Ukraine and US to hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi

January 23, 2026

Russian, Ukrainian, and US negotiators are meeting in Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral talks since Russia's invasion began nearly four years ago. The discussions follow a Moscow meeting between President Putin and US envoys, including Trump's representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which Russia described as constructive but emphasized that lasting peace requires resolving territorial disputes. The primary sticking point involves control of Ukraine's Donbas region, where Russia demands Ukraine cede the remaining 25% of Donetsk it controls, while Ukraine has proposed mutual troop withdrawals to create a demilitarized economic zone.

Who is affected

Ukrainian civilians facing infrastructure attacks and freezing temperatures
Ukraine (as a nation) and President Volodymyr Zelensky
Russia (as a nation) and President Vladimir Putin
United States negotiating team including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
Residents of Donetsk region (eastern Ukraine)
Ukrainian military personnel in Donbas
Russian military forces
Residents of Penza Oblast, Russia (affected by drone attack on oil depot)

What action is being taken

Russian, Ukrainian, and US negotiators are holding talks in Abu Dhabi
Russia is continuing its "special military operation" objectives
Both Ukraine and Russia are conducting ongoing drone attacks on each other's territory
Russian strikes are targeting key infrastructure in Ukraine
US and European partners are working on providing security guarantees to Ukraine

Why it matters

This represents the first trilateral diplomatic engagement between all three parties since the war began, signaling a potential shift toward negotiations after years of conflict. The talks are significant because they address the core territorial disputes that have prevented peace, particularly control of the Donbas region, which comprises Ukraine's industrial heartland. The involvement of the Trump administration through high-level envoys suggests renewed US diplomatic engagement in resolving the conflict. Additionally, the discussions around security guarantees for Ukraine could reshape European security architecture and establish precedents for how international territorial disputes are resolved.

What's next

Negotiations in Abu Dhabi will focus on the Donbas territorial issue and different approaches from all three sides
A US-proposed 20-point peace plan, currently 90% complete, needs finalization
Security guarantees agreed between Trump and Zelensky must be submitted to US Congress and Ukrainian parliament for approval before signing
Kirill Dmitriev will meet separately with Steve Witkoff to discuss economic issues

Read full article from source: BBC