Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region will be a central issue as negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States hold talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion.
The UAE foreign ministry said the talks, which began Friday and continue Saturday, are intended “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.” The White House described the first day of discussions as productive.
Hours before the three-way talks opened, Russian President Vladimir Putin held overnight discussions on a possible settlement with US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Kremlin reiterated that any peace deal would require Ukraine to withdraw its troops from eastern territories illegally annexed by Russia but not fully controlled.
Zelenskyy said after meeting Trump on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, that while the status of Russian-occupied land in eastern Ukraine remains unresolved, peace proposals are “nearly ready.” He also said he discussed with Trump the idea of establishing a Ukraine-controlled free trade zone in the east, calling it potentially positive for business.
Friday marked the first known instance of Trump administration officials meeting simultaneously with representatives from both Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian delegation was updating him almost hourly.
“They are discussing the parameters for ending the war,” Zelenskyy said in a late-night address. “The most important thing is whether Russia is ready to end the war it started.” He cautioned that it was too early to draw conclusions.
The Kremlin described the talks as a security working group, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov again calling troop withdrawal from Donbas an “important condition.” Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said a lasting settlement would not be possible without resolving territorial issues, while Russian media reported discussions on buffer zones and control measures.
US officials confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner were joined in Abu Dhabi by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and NATO’s top military commander, US Air Force Gen Alexus Grynkewich. Ukraine’s delegation includes senior security and military officials.
Earlier in Davos, Zelenskyy met Trump for about an hour, describing the talks as productive. Trump later said both sides want a deal but that territorial boundaries remain the main obstacle.
Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory, though gains have come at high military and economic cost. Ukraine continues to face financial strain, manpower shortages and dependence on Western military support.
Zelenskyy also sharply criticised European allies, accusing them of slow decision-making, insufficient defence spending and reluctance to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
“Europe looks lost,” he said, warning that the continent risks repeating the same mistakes unless it takes stronger action.
