Russia Insists on Ukrainian Donbas Withdrawal as Trump‑Brokered Abu Dhabi Talks Open
Russia has reiterated that any peace deal must include Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas — a demand Kyiv and negotiators say is the single remaining sticking point — as Trump‑brokered trilateral talks between U.S., Ukrainian and Russian delegations open in Abu Dhabi. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in Moscow ahead of the talks, even as media reports conflict over whether President Zelenskyy met Trump in Davos.
📌 Key Facts
- Russia is insisting that a long‑term settlement requires Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the Donbas; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated this demand as trilateral talks opened, and Axios reported Moscow says Ukraine must cede the entire Donbas on terms reportedly discussed with Trump at their August summit.
- Trilateral talks opened in Abu Dhabi with Ukrainian delegates Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, Serhii Kyslytsia and Andrii Hnatov; Russia was represented by Kirill Dmitriev and a team led by GRU chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov; U.S. participation included Army Secretary Dan Driscoll among American representatives.
- Trump envoys Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and White House official Josh Gruenbaum met Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin for about four hours; Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov called the talks 'substantive, constructive and very frank,' and Witkoff said talks have seen 'lots of progress' and are 'down to one issue.'
- Both sides identify the territorial status of Russian‑occupied eastern Ukraine as the main sticking point: Zelenskyy said 'it's all about the land,' CBS noted the same dispute previously derailed a deal, and reports say Russia continues small advances and has threatened to seize full control if talks fail.
- Ukrainian officials expected to sign two Davos documents — one on security guarantees and one on an $800 billion postwar reconstruction plan — with Zelenskyy saying the U.K. and France would put forces on the ground to monitor a ceasefire but insisting any framework include a U.S. 'backstop' from President Trump; reports say the planned reconstruction announcement was complicated by European opposition to other Trump proposals.
- Reports conflict over whether Trump met Zelenskyy at Davos: CBS reported Trump met Zelenskyy just before departing Davos, while a Ukrainian official told MS NOW Zelenskyy would remain in Kyiv despite Trump’s public statements that a meeting would occur.
- Trump publicly said he believes Russia and Ukraine want a deal and that parties are 'reasonably close' to an agreement, while also saying Zelenskyy and Putin would be 'stupid' not to reach a settlement and lamenting that both sides at times have balked at proposed frameworks.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 23, 2026
2:05 PM
Russia not backing down from demand for Ukraine to abandon territory
New information:
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov publicly reiterated that Russia’s precondition for a peace agreement is that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Donbas, calling this 'a very important condition' on the very day trilateral talks open in Abu Dhabi.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the only unresolved issue in the negotiations is the status of the Russian‑occupied eastern territories, saying 'it’s all about the land' in the Donbas.
- CBS specifies that this same territorial disagreement already derailed a potential peace deal late last year, underscoring it as a recurring sticking point.
- Zelenskyy says the U.K. and France are prepared to put forces on the ground to monitor a ceasefire, but insists any security framework must include a U.S. 'backstop' from President Trump, and claims 'the main, core agreement on security guarantees is ready' pending Trump’s final decision.
- The article notes that Russia continues to make small but incremental advances in Donbas and reiterates Putin’s threats to seize full control of the region if talks fail.
7:07 AM
Trump's envoys meet Putin for four hours on Ukraine
New information:
- Confirms that Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and White House official Josh Gruenbaum met Putin inside the Kremlin for four hours on Thursday night.
- Specifies that Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov publicly described the talks as 'substantive, constructive and very frank' and said they briefed Putin on Trump’s earlier meeting with Zelensky.
- States that Putin’s side is insisting there is 'no prospect of long term settlement' without Ukraine ceding the entire Donbas region on terms Trump and Putin allegedly agreed at their August summit.
- Details the Abu Dhabi trilateral lineup: on the Ukrainian side Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, Serhii Kyslytsia and Andrii Hnatov; on the Russian side Kirill Dmitriev plus a team led by GRU chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov; Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will also attend for the U.S.
- Notes that the Kremlin talks also covered Greenland and Trump’s Board of Peace, beyond Ukraine.
January 22, 2026
11:37 PM
Witkoff says Russia-Ukraine negotiations are "down to one issue"
New information:
- CBS report shows Steve Witkoff on camera saying Russia–Ukraine negotiations are 'down to one issue,' though he declined to specify what that sticking point is.
- The piece confirms that President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Davos on Thursday, just before Trump’s departure, to discuss efforts to end the war.
- It situates Witkoff’s remark explicitly as coming immediately after Trump wrapped up his World Economic Forum trip, reinforcing that this is the current state of play in the U.S.-brokered talks.
January 21, 2026
8:32 PM
Zelenskyy won’t travel to Davos to meet with Trump, official says
New information:
- Trump, speaking at Davos on Jan. 21, said Zelenskyy and Putin would be 'stupid' if they do not soon reach a Ukraine peace agreement, while insisting he believes they are 'not stupid.'
- A Ukrainian official says Zelenskyy will remain in Kyiv and will not travel to Davos for a meeting with Trump, despite Trump claiming he would meet Zelenskyy 'later today' and then 'Thursday.'
- Ukrainian officials had expected a Davos meeting to sign two documents: one on security guarantees for Ukraine within a peace deal and another detailing an $800 billion postwar 'prosperity plan' for reconstruction.
- The planned announcement of the $800 billion reconstruction package in Davos has reportedly been derailed by European opposition to Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland and to his proposed Gaza 'Board of Peace.'
- Trump told reporters 'we’re reasonably close to a deal' to end the war and complained that at times Zelenskyy has refused U.S.–Russia frameworks and at other times Putin has balked, calling it 'a very difficult balance.'
5:18 PM
Witkoff and Kushner scheduled to meet Putin in Moscow
New information:
- Confirms on‑the‑record that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday to discuss a Russia–Ukraine peace deal.
- Witkoff tells CNBC there has been 'lots of progress' in the last six to eight weeks and says he has a 'sense that everybody wants a peace there, that it’s time.'
- Trump, speaking at Davos, says 'I think Russia wants to make a deal, I think Ukraine wants to make a deal. I think I can say we are relatively close.'
- Article reiterates that 'land deals' remain on the table, signaling territorial concessions are being discussed despite Zelenskyy’s past public opposition.
- Confirms reports (via Axios) that Zelenskyy is expected to meet Trump in Davos on Thursday, tying the Moscow and Davos tracks together.