Abu Dhabi is hosting a second round of trilateral peace talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine today, , as Russia continues its military offensive against Ukraine. Despite the ongoing attacks, negotiators from all three countries are present in the United Arab Emirates, seeking a path towards ending the nearly four-year-long conflict.
The talks, brokered by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, follow a landmark round of negotiations held in the UAE last month. While Trump has expressed optimism about reaching a resolution, both Moscow and Kyiv have cautioned against expecting an immediate breakthrough. Russian state media reported the arrival of the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday morning.
A key obstacle to progress remains the future of territory in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that any peace deal must include Ukraine ceding control of the entire Donbas region, including areas currently under Ukrainian control. This demand has been consistently rejected by Kyiv, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated a willingness to consider alternative arrangements, such as the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from parts of the east and the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
U.S. Officials have reportedly been pressuring Ukraine to concede the Donbas region, offering security guarantees in return for territorial concessions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated last week that negotiations were largely focused on this single, contentious issue of land.
The timing of these talks coincides with a renewed escalation in fighting. Russia resumed bombing Kyiv in the days following President Trump’s claim that Vladimir Putin had agreed to a temporary pause in strikes due to the extreme cold. President Zelenskyy accused Russia of violating the agreement brokered by Trump, pointing to recent attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid that have left parts of the country without power during freezing temperatures.
“Each such Russian strike confirms that attitudes in Moscow have not changed,” Zelenskyy said on Tuesday. “They continue to bet on war and the destruction of Ukraine, and they do not take diplomacy seriously.”
The current round of negotiations is expected to mirror the format of last month’s talks, with negotiators from Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow in attendance. The U.S. Delegation includes presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Jared Kushner, and White House senior advisor Josh Gruenbaum. Russia is represented by special envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, stated on social media that Kyiv’s team is seeking “to achieve a just and lasting peace.” However, some observers express skepticism about the prospects for a meaningful outcome. Reports suggest that a viable path to peace remains complicated by Moscow’s maximalist territorial demands.
The talks are taking place against a broader backdrop of shifting geopolitical alignments. Some analysts suggest a growing recognition, even in Beijing, that Russia is becoming more of a liability than an asset. This assessment reflects concerns about Russia’s long-term stability and its impact on international relations.
Meanwhile, Russian officials continue to signal a hardline stance. Dmitry Medvedev, a key figure in the Russian government, reportedly stated that a Russian triumph in Ukraine is imminent. This rhetoric underscores the significant gap between the positions of the two sides and the challenges facing negotiators in Abu Dhabi.
The United States has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict, with President Trump taking a leading role in facilitating talks. However, the success of these efforts hinges on the willingness of both Russia and Ukraine to compromise on key issues, particularly the territorial dispute in eastern Ukraine. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the future of Ukraine, the security landscape in Europe, and the broader international order.
