The trilateral peace talks held in the United Arab Emirates over the weekend were characterized as constructive, though the involved parties mentioned they would not schedule more meetings for now, despite persistent areas of disagreement.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, indicated that additional discussions regarding the Ukraine conflict are anticipated next week, although he couldn’t specify the exact date. Meanwhile, US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that plans are in place to resume talks in Abu Dhabi next week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, however, seemed less definitive, suggesting that the next meeting might take place “as early as next week,” depending on agreements from the U.S. and Russia. It’s possible negotiations could kick off this upcoming weekend.
The talks, which spanned two days from Friday to Saturday, saw Ukrainian and Russian representatives meeting directly alongside U.S. mediators in Abu Dhabi, marking a potential step forward in peace efforts. According to sources, the discussions concluded with a joint lunch showcasing cooperation, which participants described as productive.
Witkoff labeled the discussions as “constructive,” while Zelenskiy noted that they centered on “possible parameters for ending the war.” He also emphasized the importance of “U.S. oversight and control in the process of concluding the conflict and ensuring significant security.” Later, he stated that a U.S. security agreement was “100% ready” and pending signature.
However, key differences over warfare persist. While Zelenskiy remarked that there are fewer “troublesome issues” than before, he reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to its territorial integrity, standing firm against Russian demands to cede the eastern regions.
On the matter of not yielding land for a peace settlement, Zelenskiy asserted: “We are fighting for our country, for what is ours. We’re not engaged in hostilities on foreign soil, so what questions are there? Yes, Ukrainian and Russian positions differ fundamentally. Americans are working towards a compromise.”
Russia, meanwhile, attempted to reinterpret this stance, which affirms Ukrainian control over its territory, even as some areas have been under Moscow’s occupation for years. Kirill Dmitriev, representing Moscow, claimed that Zelenskiy’s comments at Davos failed to resonate and suggested that the reluctance to concede territory is hindering the pursuit of peace.
Additionally, Ukraine reported ongoing large-scale aerial assaults by Russia against civilian regions, aggravating the situation and undermining the peace efforts. This comes amid widespread power outages in Ukraine due to ongoing Russian strikes on energy infrastructure during recent weeks.
