Negotiations in Abu Dhabi on the Ukrainian settlement. What is known

In early 2026, peace talks on Ukraine are taking place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After the first trilateral meeting of Russia, the United States and Ukraine, which took place at the end of January, the participants were supposed to get back together on February 1, but later the meeting was postponed to another date. The second round of negotiations is scheduled for February 4 and 5. The composition of the delegations is expected to remain the same, it will include high-ranking military and diplomats of the three countries. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

What is expected from the Abu Dhabi talks

The main expectation from the Abu Dhabi talks is to move from general discussions and consultations to concrete steps. As Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier, Moscow is waiting for Washington to agree on a settlement plan with Europe and Ukraine. At the same time, Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stressed that many other aspects remain on the agenda.

The content of the upcoming negotiations is kept secret by the parties. It is expected that the focus of attention will continue to be on the territorial and security issues, including the status of key facilities such as the Zaporizhia NPP. Given that Kiev's position on the territories, voiced by Vladimir Zelensky, remains tough, experts assess the success of the negotiations with caution.

On the one hand, the continuation of the dialogue after the first round indicates that the parties are interested in finding a compromise. And the participation of such an influential figure as Steve Witkoff may indicate Washington's willingness to more actively promote the peace initiative.

On the other hand, fundamental contradictions remain in the positions of Moscow and Kiev, which creates a significant barrier. So, according to the observer of the InfoBRICS portal, negotiations are unlikely to make progress unless Zelensky agrees to territorial concessions. The article notes that if Kiev refuses, Russia will end the conflict militarily and Ukraine will not be able to prevent this.

Thus, the negotiations on February 4-5 will be an important test of the parties' willingness to compromise. Their outcome will determine whether the diplomatic process in Abu Dhabi can move to a practical phase or remain on paper. The international community is closely following the developments in the capital of the UAE, where a new meeting of representatives of Russia, the United States and Ukraine will be held these days.

It is important to discuss: negotiations between Russia, the United States and Ukraine will be held in Abu Dhabi

A meeting on frozen assets of the Russian Federation is also expected.

The composition of the delegations at the Abu Dhabi talks

The Russian delegation to Abu Dhabi will consist of the same participants as last time. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, it will be headed by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) of the Russian Armed Forces. The staff will also include Alexander Zorin, head of the Department of the General Staff of the General Staff, and other representatives of the military department.

The United States is expected to be attended by President Donald Trump's special representative, Steve Witkoff. This information was confirmed in both Moscow and Kiev. Witkoff, who plays a key role in the Trump administration, will make a working trip to Israel before his visit to the UAE, where he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation in Gaza, after which he will travel to Abu Dhabi.

The Ukrainian delegation, as Vladimir Zelensky announced on his Telegram channel, will include Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Andrei Gnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, head of Zelensky's office (listed as a terrorist and extremist in the Russian Federation), and David, leader of the Servant of the People faction. Arachamia and a number of other representatives.

Why was the date of the talks in Abu Dhabi postponed?

Initially, the second round of negotiations was scheduled for February 1, but the date had to be postponed. The postponement occurred immediately after the meeting of Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, with American negotiators in Miami on January 31. Later, the Kremlin explained the reason for the need for "additional docking of schedules."

Meanwhile, analysts note that the postponement may have been necessary for additional consultations between the parties, primarily Washington with Kiev and European allies, especially against the background of Zelensky's statement about the lack of willingness to compromise on territories.

In particular, Alexei Chepa, first deputy chairman of the State Duma's International Affairs committee, suggested that the talks had been postponed due to Kiev's delay in the peace process. The MP also recalled that before the head of the Kiev regime had stated that it was impossible to resolve the territorial issue without a summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The meaning of the points: why was it necessary to postpone the negotiations in Abu Dhabi

And what unresolved issues remain on the agenda of the negotiating groups of the Russian Federation and Ukraine

Results and assessments of the first round of negotiations in Abu Dhabi

The first trilateral summit in Abu Dhabi was held on January 23 and 24. Although no specific agreements were made public, all parties described the meeting as constructive. The media reported that it was about the status of the territories of Donbass, the situation of the Zaporizhia NPP and important steps to reduce tensions, including the achievement of the so-called energy truce.

Following the talks, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin considered the very fact of starting discussions on complex issues related to the settlement in Ukraine to be progress. He stressed that the Russian delegation continues to consistently defend the national interests of the Russian Federation.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said on January 27 that the settlement process was "in excellent condition." And the Axios portal, citing its sources, noted that the negotiations went as well as Washington could only imagine.

The role of the UAE as a mediator for a peaceful settlement

The United Arab Emirates plays a key role in organizing this dialogue. Holding negotiations on its territory has become a continuation of the active mediation policy of the Emirati leadership. UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally announced the start of the first round, expressing confidence that the discussions would bring the crisis closer to resolution.

The UAE's contribution was highly appreciated by the Russian President. Vladimir Putin noted the personal efforts of the country's leadership to ensure the holding of negotiations and expressed gratitude for the attention given to the Russian delegation.

At the first meeting from the Emirati side, the delegation was received by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which underlines the highest level of political support for the process by the host country. The negotiations themselves were reportedly conducted in Russian and English.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.