The United Arab Emirates has confirmed it is hosting two days of trilateral talks between representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 January. In a statement, the UAE foreign minister framed the meetings as support for dialogue and de‑escalation, with the country citing prior mediation experience in the conflict. Local authorities said the talks began on Friday and will continue through Saturday. (mofa.gov.ae)
Emirati officials described the engagement as a technical-level process but noted its political significance. State media and international agencies reported that the forum is the first trilateral setting involving the three parties since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022, underscoring the rarity of direct channels across the conflict divide. (english.news.cn)
Participants identified by official and semi‑official outlets include U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russia’s military intelligence chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov, and senior Ukrainian security officials. Emirati and regional media added that the UAE president met the heads of the delegations on Friday evening. Precise formats remain fluid and it is not clear whether Russian and Ukrainian negotiators will be seated together at any point. (gulfnews.com)
Substantively, territory remains the central point of contention. Moscow maintains that any settlement must address control of the eastern Donbas region in terms favourable to Russia, while Kyiv rejects ceding land it continues to defend. Public signals from the Kremlin on Friday reiterated that position ahead of the Abu Dhabi sessions, suggesting limited room for immediate compromise. (themoscowtimes.com)
Security guarantees for Ukraine are the second pillar of the agenda. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Davos that terms with the United States have been agreed in principle, pending ratification procedures, and that associated documents are “nearly, nearly ready.” He characterised the effort as focused on ensuring Russia cannot re‑attack after any settlement, though no text has been released. (theguardian.com)
Zelensky has repeatedly stated that a broader framework is close but unresolved on fundamentals. In his New Year address he said a deal is “90%” ready, with the remaining “10%” decisive and largely related to territory-language he echoed in Davos this week. Ukrainian officials have also referred to multi‑year U.S. security assurances under discussion. (archive.vn)
The immediate diplomatic push follows a volatile period in U.S.–Ukraine relations last year. In March 2025, Washington briefly paused military aid and curtailed intelligence sharing following a contentious meeting at the White House; the suspension was later lifted after a short‑lived ceasefire attempt. Kyiv’s calculus now includes maintaining U.S. backing while resisting terms that would formalise territorial losses. (washingtonpost.com)
Conditions inside Ukraine add urgency. Russian strikes against energy infrastructure have produced prolonged heating and power outages in sub‑zero temperatures, with the mayor of Kyiv urging residents who can do so to temporarily leave the city. Local authorities reported thousands of apartment blocks without heat at points this month as emergency services worked to stabilise supply. (washingtonpost.com)
For the host, the meetings extend an established role. The UAE foreign ministry highlighted its record facilitating prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine-17 efforts leading to 4,641 releases-arguing that this track record supports its convening authority for talks at a sensitive moment. (mofa.gov.ae)
What to watch over the 48‑hour window is straightforward: official readouts indicating whether any face‑to‑face contact occurred between Russian and Ukrainian representatives; language on territory that departs from entrenched positions; and signs that security‑guarantee text is moving from principle to publication. Until then, expectations remain cautious, but the fact of a trilateral forum-confirmed by the host government-marks a notable shift from shuttle diplomacy to structured engagement. (mofa.gov.ae)