Hectic Parleys Ahead of Proposed Trilateral Meet of US, Russia, and Ukraine in UAE

In indications of positive movement in the peace talks to end the Ukraine-Russia war, a series of diplomatic talks took place among the leaders of the US, Russia, and Ukraine, even as they proposed to meet in the UAE for the first trilateral meeting.

This is the first sign of progress made to end the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II, though Moscow and Kyiv remained adamant on their core interests in the conflict for a post-war settlement.

How was the Kremlin involved with the trilateral meeting?

Interestingly, it was the Kremlin that announced the trilateral meeting in the United Arab Emirates, after top US negotiators held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss the Trump-initiated peace plan to end the four-year war with Ukraine.

US negotiators, led by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, spoke to Putin on Friday (January 23, 2026), the Kremlin said in a statement, while Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters that the talks were “useful in every respect.”

Are the teams from the three sides headed to the UAE?

The US team, as per the last reports, was now flying to Abu Dhabi, where the trilateral meeting would be held. A Russian delegation, led by General Igor Kostyukov, who is the Russian military intelligence GRU’s Director, was also headed to the US, Ushakov said.

“It was agreed that the first meeting of a trilateral working group on security issues will take place today in Abu Dhabi,” Ushakov said. “We are genuinely interested in resolving (the conflict) through political and diplomatic means,” he said, adding, “Until that happens, Russia will continue to achieve its objectives… on the battlefield.”

Earlier, Witkoff had mentioned that Russia and Ukraine were now “down to one issue,” but did not explain what that was. Kremlin-released video footage of the meeting showed a smiling Putin shaking hands with Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum.

How close are the three nations to getting a peace deal?

The US-Russia meeting came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a draft deal was “nearly, nearly ready” and that he and Trump had agreed on the issue of post-war security guarantees. He also said the UK and France had already committed forces on the ground.

Russia, which occupies around 20% of Ukraine, is pushing for full control of the country’s eastern Donbas region as part of a deal. But Kyiv warned that ceding ground would embolden Moscow and said it would not sign a peace deal that fails to deter Russia from launching a renewed assault.

What did Zelenskyy do in Davos?

Zelenskyy went to Davos in Switzerland on Thursday (January 22) to meet Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Trump had said a day earlier that he would meet with Zelenskyy in Davos.

Trump had said on Wednesday (January 21) his oft-stated belief that Putin and Zelenskyy were close to a deal. “I believe they’re at a point now where they can come together and get a deal done. And if they don’t, they’re stupid — that goes for both of them,” he said after delivering a speech at Davos.

Zelenskyy, addressing WEF in Davos, blasted the EU’s lack of “political will” in countering Putin. “Instead of becoming a truly global power, Europe remains a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope of small and middle powers,” he said.

How long would the trilateral meeting go on?

Zelenskyy said the first tripartite meeting between the US, Russia, and Ukraine will take place in the UAE for two days, starting Friday (January 23).

He said US representatives wanted to see how his meeting with Trump concluded. “This will be the first tripartite meeting in the Emirates, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. I hope the UAE is aware, because the Americans generally love surprising everyone, but this meeting should take place,” he said.

Regarding his talks with Trump, Zelenskyy said the meeting “was good” and that documents on ending the war are nearly finalised.

“I really hope that the Russians will be ready for compromises, because it is not only the Ukrainian side that should be ready for compromises,” he added.