Photo: president.gov.ua
Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia took place in Abu Dhabi for the first time in a long period, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a visit to Lithuania.
According to Zelensky, the parties discussed the full 20-point peace settlement plan, and the number of contentious issues in the negotiation process has decreased.
Ukraine’s principled position on territory
Zelensky emphasized that Russia has long sought to achieve its goal of pushing Ukraine out of the eastern part of the country. However, the Russian army is currently unable to achieve this on the front line. The president stressed that Ukraine’s position remains unchanged: the country’s territorial integrity must be respected, and Ukraine is fighting for its own land.
Attempts to find compromise with US mediation
The president noted that Ukrainian and Russian positions are fundamentally different. At the same time, the US is working to identify potential compromise solutions.
“We are moving forward by communicating in a trilateral format. These are the first steps to finding a compromise. But for a compromise, all parties must be ready to compromise — including the American side,” Zelensky said.
Abu Dhabi talks
Yesterday, trilateral talks involving the US, Ukraine, and Russia concluded in Abu Dhabi, aimed at finding ways for a peaceful settlement. Despite statements from the Ukrainian side about constructive dialogue, the territorial issue remains unresolved.
Russia insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas, a demand that Kyiv firmly rejects.
According to an RBC-Ukraine source, the first round was introductory, and on Saturday the parties met in an expanded format, after which they split into two subgroups: one political and one military.
The source said significant progress was made in discussing military issues, while a decision on territorial matters has yet to be reached.
US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff also positively assessed the Abu Dhabi talks and reported an agreement to continue consultations.
The next round of trilateral negotiations is expected to take place on February 1.
