Officials from Ukraine, Russia and the United States are set to hold their first-ever trilateral talks this weekend in Abu Dhabi, marking a potentially significant step toward ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, comes as diplomatic efforts intensify to broker a settlement after nearly four years of conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the talks following his discussions with US President Donald Trump in Davos. He described the upcoming negotiations as a positive development and said key terms related to security guarantees for Ukraine had already been finalized. According to Zelenskyy, an agreement on post-war economic recovery is also close to completion, forming a central pillar of Kyiv&rsquo;s broader peace framework. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A good meeting with <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> &mdash; productive and substantive. We discussed the work of our teams, and practically every day there are meetings or communication. The documents are now even better prepared. We also spoke today about air defense for Ukraine. Our previous meeting with&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/E1j8kpJazN">pic.twitter.com/E1j8kpJazN</a>
&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2014341255430377723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote>

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While Ukraine has publicly welcomed the initiative, there was no immediate response from Russia regarding participation. The United States, however, signaled cautious optimism. Trump characterized his meeting with Zelenskyy as constructive, while emphasizing that the path to ending the war remains an ongoing process.
US envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been involved in shuttle diplomacy between the parties, said significant progress has been made and that negotiations have narrowed down to one unresolved issue. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Witkoff expressed confidence that the remaining obstacle could be resolved if all sides remain committed.
Witkoff and Trump&rsquo;s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, recently traveled to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. From there, they are expected to proceed to Abu Dhabi, where further talks will continue in military-level working groups alongside diplomatic discussions.
Zelenskyy said the UAE-hosted meetings will include the first direct trilateral format involving officials from all three countries. He also reiterated his call for accountability, arguing that Russia&rsquo;s leadership should face international prosecution and criticizing European governments for not redirecting frozen Russian assets toward Ukraine&rsquo;s defense.
Key unresolved issues reportedly include the long-term status of territories seized by Russia, Moscow&rsquo;s demands over additional areas still under Ukrainian control, and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian occupation.
Despite repeated claims from Washington that a deal may be near, no formal agreement has yet been reached. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed diplomatic efforts but stressed that Ukraine still needs military assistance as it continues to face Russian missile and drone attacks.
The talks come against a backdrop of intensified violence. Recent strikes have left large parts of Kyiv without electricity and heating during freezing temperatures, while a drone attack in Odesa hit a residential building, killing a 17-year-old.
As the war grinds on, the Abu Dhabi meeting is being closely watched as a possible turning point. Whether it can translate diplomatic momentum into a concrete peace agreement remains uncertain, but it marks the most direct engagement yet among the three principal actors shaping the conflict&rsquo;s future.

First US-Russia-Ukraine Talks Set in Abu Dhabi

Trilateral meeting aims to advance peace as Kyiv, Washington & Moscow seek war settlement

First US-Russia-Ukraine Talks Set in Abu Dhabi

Trilateral meeting aims to advance peace as Kyiv, Washington & Moscow seek war settlement

January 23, 2026 | 09:56 IST