Russia, Ukraine, US hold trilateral peace talks for 1st time
What's the story
For the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States, Russia, and Ukraine are holding trilateral peace talks. The two-day meeting is being held in Abu Dhabi and comes after an "extremely frank" meeting between United States President Donald Trump's envoys and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
Russia
Kremlin talks 'exceptionally substantive'
Yury Ushakov, a Kremlin aide, described the talks as "exceptionally substantive, constructive, and, I would say, extremely frank and confidential." However, he cautioned that without resolving the territorial issue, a long-term settlement is unlikely. He also stated that Russia will continue to pursue its objectives "on the battlefield, where the Russian Armed Forces hold the strategic initiative," until an agreement is reached.
Meeting details
Key issues and participants in the trilateral talks
The primary sticking point is the future of territory in Ukraine's east, with Moscow showing no signs of relenting on its hardline demands. The Kremlin said on Friday that any agreement to stop the war would require Kyiv's soldiers to withdraw from the territory. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated this demand, saying, "Russia's position is well known... Ukraine and the Ukrainian armed forces have to leave the territory of Donbas."
Territorial disputes
Ukrainian President's stance on territorial issues
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also acknowledged that territorial disputes are a key issue. He said peace proposals were "nearly ready," but emphasized that Ukraine wouldn't give up land it has defended since 2022. The talks come after a meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where they discussed the ongoing conflict and potential solutions.
Diplomatic efforts
Zelenskyy calls meeting a 'step'
Speaking with reporters over WhatsApp on Friday morning, Zelenskyy described the Donbas issue as "key," adding that it will be discussed by the trilateral group in Abu Dhabi in the days ahead. He stated that the Ukrainian team will be led by Rustem Umerov, his top negotiator. Zelenskyy described the trilateral meeting as "a step," adding, "We are not standing still."
Delegation details
US-led efforts have failed so far
Recent US-led efforts to put an end to the four-year war have failed to halt the bloodshed, with Moscow's demand that Ukraine hand over territory claimed by Russia as a sticking point in negotiations. Russia currently occupies around 20% of the land recognized under international law as part of sovereign Ukraine, including almost all of the Luhansk region and portions of the Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.