Ukraine has indicated that additional meetings with Russia could take place as early as next week following the conclusion of what it described as “constructive” trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. The discussions, which ended on Saturday in the UAE capital, brought together representatives from the United States, Russia and Ukraine in the first such format since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the two days of meetings involved military representatives from all three sides and focused on possible parameters for ending the war. “A lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive,” Zelensky said in a statement. He added that all sides agreed to report back to their respective capitals on each aspect of the negotiations and coordinate further steps with their leaders.
[VOICE CAST BEGINS]
Discussions centred on possible parameters for ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X that he valued “the understanding of the need for American monitoring and oversight of the process of ending the war and ensuring genuine security.”
The US side raised possible formats for formally setting out the terms of an end to the conflict, along with the security conditions needed to make it viable.
Military representatives also identified issues to be taken up at a possible next round of talks. Zelensky said that if there is readiness to move forward, and if Ukraine is prepared, further meetings could take place as early as next week.
The UAE has emerged as a key diplomatic player, with its mediation efforts in the Ukraine crisis going beyond conventional diplomacy to embrace a humanitarian mission aimed at prioritizing life over conflict and building bridges of hope amid destruction.
[VOICE CAST ENDS]
The talks began on Friday and were attended by US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, and Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, along with senior officials from both sides.The Ukrainian president expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates and personally to the president of the Emirates for their mediation and readiness to host further meetings.
The trilateral talks represent a significant diplomatic development in efforts to end the nearly four-year war that has devastated Ukraine and strained global relations. The involvement of military representatives alongside diplomatic officials signals a potential shift toward substantive negotiations on security arrangements and ceasefire mechanisms. The UAE’s role as mediator underscores the growing influence of Gulf states in international peace efforts, with Abu Dhabi positioning itself as a neutral ground for dialogue between opposing parties in one of the world’s most consequential conflicts.
