The United States, Russia, and Ukraine have converged in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for a critical meeting aimed at addressing territorial disputes that remain a significant barrier to ending the conflict that has persisted for nearly four years. These discussions mark the first trilateral talks since 2022, signaling a renewed effort to seek peace.

This diplomatic gathering follows a flurry of high-profile meetings, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s discussions with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Davos, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. These preliminary talks set the stage for the current negotiations in Abu Dhabi.

Witkoff and Kushner made their way to the UAE after engaging with Putin in Moscow, underscoring the United States’ commitment to facilitating dialogue between the conflicting parties.

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, officially welcomed the heads of the delegations attending the UAE-hosted negotiations on January 23, 2026, highlighting the importance of this international effort.

With the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the horizon, both Zelenskyy and Putin are facing mounting pressure to broker a peace agreement. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is actively encouraging a resolution to this prolonged conflict, keen to see an end to the war.

While Russia has demanded Ukraine cede the Donbas, Zelenskyy has stood firm in his opposition to making land concessions, though the discussions in Abu Dhabi suggest that he could be ready to negotiate. Putin is demanding Ukraine surrender the 20% it holds of the Donetsk region of the Donbas, according to Reuters.

The U.S., Ukraine and Russia are holding the first trilateral meeting in years. (Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via Reuters; Denis Balibouse/Reuters; Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters)

“The question of Donbas is key. It will be discussed how the three sides… see this in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow,” Zelenskyy told reporters via WhatsApp, according to Reuters. The outlet added that an aide for Zelenskyy said the talks are expected to continue Saturday.

The envoys are meeting as Ukrainians face below-freezing temperatures after Russian strikes damaged the country’s power supply.

Maxim Timchenko, the head of Ukraine’s top private power producer, told Reuters that the situation was nearing a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have both met separately with President Donald Trump. Despite a peace deal agreement being close, territorial disputes remain, Zelenskyy said.   (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP; Christian Bruna/Getty)

While speaking with reporters on Air Force One, Trump was asked if the trilateral meeting could lead to one with himself, Putin and Zelenskyy. He would not commit but said that “any time we meet, it’s good.” He also expressed doubts about whether Putin wanted to take over all of Ukraine.

“What’s happened here is there were times when Putin didn’t want to make a deal, times when Zelenskyy didn’t want to make a deal, and it was opposite times. Now, I think they both want to make a deal. We’ll find out,” Trump said.

The president also acknowledged that the topics of the discussions that were happening had been debated for months.