U.S.–Russia–Ukraine Abu Dhabi Talks Seen as 'Constructive' on U.S. Peace Framework and Donbas Terms
U.S., Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Abu Dhabi for trilateral talks hosted by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed after U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Josh Gruenbaum spent four hours with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin to brief him on Trump’s earlier engagement with Zelensky; participants and the Kremlin described the discussions as "substantive," "constructive" and "fruitful." The negotiations centered on the U.S. peace framework and the fraught territorial status of the Donbas—which Russia insists Ukraine must cede and which Ukrainian officials say is the remaining sticking point—with Kyiv calling the talks positive and open to follow‑on meetings.
📌 Key Facts
- U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Josh Gruenbaum met Vladimir Putin inside the Kremlin for roughly four hours; Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov called the meeting substantive, constructive and frank and said they briefed Putin on President Trump’s meeting with Zelensky.
- Trilateral U.S.-Ukraine-Russia talks convened in Abu Dhabi — the first such three‑way talks since 2022 — hosted by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, who said discussions addressed outstanding elements of the U.S. peace framework and confidence‑building measures.
- Ukrainian officials described the Abu Dhabi meetings as positive and constructive, noting there were moments of direct Russia–Ukraine engagement without U.S. mediators and that talks could extend into Saturday.
- All sides indicated progress but identified the status of Russian‑occupied eastern Donbas as the single remaining, recurring sticking point: the Kremlin (via Peskov/Ushakov and reporting) insists on Ukrainian withdrawal/cession of Donbas territory, while Ukrainian leaders say 'it’s all about the land' and the Donbas question is key.
- Territorial concessions (so‑called 'land deals') remain on the table and have previously derailed a potential peace agreement; Steve Witkoff said negotiations are 'down to one issue' and reported 'lots of progress' in recent weeks.
- Delegations were high‑level: the U.S. team included Witkoff, Kushner, Gruenbaum, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and EUCOM commander Gen. Alexus Grynkewich; Ukraine’s team included Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, Serhii Kyslytsia, Andrii Hnatov and Davyd Arakhamia; Russia’s team was led by GRU chief Adm. Igor Kostyukov and Kirill Dmitriev.
- Zelensky said Ukraine has a draft security package ready — with the U.K. and France prepared to help monitor a ceasefire and a U.S. 'backstop' expected — and proposed a Ukraine‑controlled free‑trade zone in the east; he signaled readiness for follow‑on meetings in Abu Dhabi as early as next week.
- The talks coincided with a major Russian strike: Zelensky reported that Russia launched about 370 attack drones and 21 missiles against Kyiv and other cities during the period of negotiations.
- President Trump met with Zelensky at Davos and publicly said he believed both Russia and Ukraine 'want to make a deal' and that the parties were 'relatively close' to an agreement.
📰 Source Timeline (9)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 24, 2026
3:32 PM
Ukrainian officials call talks with U.S. and Russia "positive" and "constructive"
New information:
- Ukrainian officials describe the Abu Dhabi trilateral talks as 'positive' and 'constructive' and say they included direct Russia–Ukraine engagement without U.S. mediators in the room at times.
- The article lists the full U.S. delegation — Trump advisers Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Josh Gruenbaum, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and EUCOM commander Gen. Alexus Grynkewich — and the Ukrainian team, including Kyrylo Budanov, Rustem Umerov, Gen. Andrii Hnatov, Sergiy Kyslytsya and Davyd Arakhamia.
- UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed personally hosted the talks, and a UAE government spokesperson said discussions addressed 'outstanding elements of the U.S.-proposed peace framework' and confidence‑building measures.
- Zelensky, after a report from his team, said the focus was on 'possible parameters for ending the war,' thanked the U.S. for being willing to monitor and oversee any end‑of‑war process, and signaled Ukraine is ready for follow‑on meetings in Abu Dhabi as early as next week.
- The talks coincided with a massive new Russian strike in which Zelensky said 370 attack drones and 21 missiles of various types were launched against Kyiv and other cities.
January 23, 2026
8:25 PM
Russia, Ukraine to discuss territory as Trump says both sides 'want to make a deal'
New information:
- Confirms that the U.S., Russia and Ukraine are now actually meeting in Abu Dhabi in the first trilateral talks since 2022, not just preparing for them.
- Quotes Zelenskyy via WhatsApp saying "The question of Donbas is key" and that Donbas will be discussed by all three sides in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow, with talks expected to continue Saturday.
- Reports that, according to Reuters as cited here, Putin is demanding Ukraine surrender the 20% of Donetsk region it still holds in Donbas.
- Adds Trump’s Air Force One comments that there were periods when either Putin or Zelenskyy "didn't want to make a deal" but that he now believes "they both want to make a deal," while declining to commit to a three‑way leaders’ meeting.
5:36 PM
Ukraine, Russia and U.S. to discuss fraught issue of territorial concessions
New information:
- Zelenskyy says the status of the eastern Donbas region will be a key focus of Friday’s three‑way talks in Abu Dhabi between Ukraine, Russia and the U.S.
- Zelenskyy publicly reiterates to Trump in Davos his proposal for a Ukraine‑controlled free trade zone in the east, saying he believes it would be 'positive for our business.'
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirms the Russian delegation to Abu Dhabi will be headed by Adm. Kostyukov and could extend talks into Saturday if necessary.
- Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, after a four‑hour overnight Moscow meeting with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, states that a long‑term settlement 'can’t be expected without solving the territorial issue' and calls the talks 'frank, constructive' and 'fruitful.'
- Josh Gruenbaum, head of the Federal Acquisition Service and a senior adviser on Trump’s 'Board of Peace', is identified as accompanying Trump’s envoys and as part of the economic‑issues channel with Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
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.