Focus Turns to Donbas as Talks Resume
Peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine are continuing in Abu Dhabi, with representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the United States meeting for a second day on Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of the eastern Donbas region is central to the discussions, which come nearly four years after Moscow launched its invasion.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian officials are keeping him closely updated, calling the talks significant because such three-way meetings have been rare in recent years. While stressing it is too early to draw firm conclusions, he said Kyiv expects clear answers from Moscow and reiterated that Russia must show genuine willingness to end the war it started.
Cautious Optimism, Deep Divisions
The White House described the first day of talks as productive, while the United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry said the meetings are part of broader efforts to encourage dialogue and find political solutions to the conflict. Friday’s session marked the first known instance of officials from the Trump administration engaging simultaneously with both Ukrainian and Russian negotiators.
Russia, however, released few details. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine’s withdrawal from eastern Donbas remains a key condition for Moscow, alongside other unspecified issues. Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said long-term peace would not be possible without resolving territorial questions, describing talks with US officials as frank and constructive. Russian media reported that ideas such as buffer zones and control mechanisms were also on the table.
Who’s at the Table — and What Comes Next
Russia’s delegation is led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov and includes senior military officials, while Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to hold separate economic talks with US representatives. Washington has confirmed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are attending, alongside Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and NATO’s top military commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich. Ukraine is represented by senior defence and intelligence figures, including Rustem Umerov and Kyrylo Budanov.
The talks follow a late-night meeting in Moscow earlier in the week between Putin and Trump’s envoys, where the Kremlin again insisted any peace deal would require Ukrainian forces to leave territories Russia claims but does not fully control. Zelenskyy said after meeting Trump in Davos that peace proposals are nearly complete, though the status of occupied land remains unresolved. He also floated the idea of a free-trade zone in eastern Ukraine under Kyiv’s control, saying it could be a boost for Ukrainian business.
