High Stakes, Low Expectations: Ukraine-Russia-US Talks in Abu Dhabi

Sat Jan 24 2026 15:02:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the US meet in Abu Dhabi for crucial trilateral talks, but the potential for a breakthrough appears limited.

In a significant diplomatic effort, representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the US convened in Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral meeting since the onset of the war. Despite high stakes, expectations for a resolution remain low, as fundamental disagreements persist. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains cautious amid ongoing military concerns, while Donald Trump pushes for a peace deal that has yet to materialize.

Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine and the US have been meeting in Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral talks since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, while the talks take a new format, the core differences remain the same.

The stakes are high, but expectations are limited. Donald Trump is pushing hard for a peace deal in Ukraine – the one he promised but hasn't yet delivered – and he said this week that the two sides would be 'stupid' if they couldn't agree.

Despite some intense shuttle diplomacy by his own envoys, they are hosting the first trilateral talks involving Ukrainian and Russian negotiators with some major issues still unresolved. Ukraine is engaging with the process because it wants peace more than anyone, but also because it needs to keep the US onside, having learned that lesson the hard way last year when Trump briefly suspended intelligence sharing and military aid.

Now, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says his talks with Trump in Davos were 'really positive,' hoping for increased air defense support against Russia's relentless attacks. However, he remains cautious regarding the outcome of the talks in the UAE. He has described the meetings as 'a step,' but shied away from calling it a positive one, emphasizing the unresolved issues regarding the eastern part of Ukraine.

Ukraine is firm on retaining its territory in the Donbas region, which Russia demands control of. Politicians often discuss their red lines, but for Ukraine, the line in Donbas is drawn with the blood of soldiers who've died defending it. Moreover, the talks will explore what military actions the US would undertake if Russia invades Ukraine again.

Yet, there's growing skepticism about Trump's guarantees for Ukraine. His fixation on unrelated matters has cast doubt on the presidency's reliability in defending Ukraine's sovereignty. Meanwhile, as Russia intensifies its offensive actions on civilian infrastructure, Ukraine faces severe challenges, with its major cities like Kyiv under threat from energy shortages amid devastating winter conditions.

The situation remains fragile, with Kyiv's mayor urging citizens to evacuate if possible, highlighting the depth of the ongoing crisis.