Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators will hold talks in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, in what officials say is the first meeting attended by all three countries since the conflict in Ukraine started nearly four years ago.
The Kremlin confirmed Russian officials would attend the talks following a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US envoys in Moscow.
Russia described those talks as “useful in every respect”, but said a long-term peace deal could not be reached until territorial issues had been resolved.
Present at the Thursday night meeting with Putin and two other Russian aides were three US representatives, including Steve Witkoff, and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
⚡️Aide to the President of Russia Yury Ushakov on the President Vladimir #Putin’s meeting with US Special Envoy Witkoff:
— Russian Embassy in South Africa 🇷🇺 (@EmbassyofRussia) January 23, 2026
The talks went on for approximately 4 hours and were exceptionally in-depth, constructive, and constituted an extremely frank and heart-to-heart conversation. pic.twitter.com/Kul9LyMorF
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the talks were “substantive, constructive and very frank”, but reiterated that any agreement for durable peace would not be possible without resolving territorial issues.
“Until this is achieved, Russia will continue to consistently pursue the objectives of the special military operation,” he said.
Ushakov added that Putin emphasized Russia was “sincerely interested” in a diplomatic solution.
“Without resolving the territorial issue according to the formula agreed upon in Anchorage, there is no hope of achieving a long-term settlement,” he said, a reference to the summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska last year.
Zelensky Slams Allies
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized European allies for a lack of “political will” in taking action against Russia.
After meeting with Trump in Davos, Zelensky also made clear that the future status of territory in eastern Ukraine remained an unsolved issue.
“It’s all about the land. This is the issue which is not solved yet,” Zelensky told reporters in Davos, adding that “the Russians have to be ready for compromises, not only Ukraine”.
Speaking in Davos, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Europe lacks a clear response to global crises, pointing to uncertainty over Greenland and the failure to support protests in Iran.
— euronews (@euronews) January 22, 2026
He warned that inaction signals to authoritarian leaders that violence can secure power. pic.twitter.com/g0XLTfzsrs
The territorial sticking points include Russia’s demand that Ukraine give up the 25% of the Donetsk region that Kyiv still controls.
Zelensky joked in Davos that he hoped the UAE knew about the planned meeting on Friday, but in a measure of the seriousness of the talks he named some of his most senior officials as part of the Ukrainian negotiating team.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)