Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The United Arab Emirates has welcomed the launch of rare trilateral talks bringing together Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi, marking the first known meeting of the three sides since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022.
The discussions began on Friday and are expected to continue for up to two days, according to the UAE’s state news agency WAM, as part of international efforts to revive dialogue and explore political pathways to ending a conflict now entering its fourth year.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, said hosting the talks reflects the international community’s confidence in the UAE’s role as a credible and constructive diplomatic actor. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he expressed hope that the discussions would lead to concrete steps toward ending a war that has caused extensive humanitarian suffering.
Sheikh Abdullah emphasized that the UAE’s long-standing partnerships with all three parties enable it to serve as a trusted venue for dialogue at a time when “serious and responsible diplomacy” is urgently needed. He reiterated the country’s belief that sustainable solutions to conflicts can only be achieved through dialogue and de-escalation, reaffirming Abu Dhabi’s commitment to building diplomatic bridges and supporting any progress emerging from the talks.
The Emirati foreign minister also praised the role played by U.S. President Donald Trump in facilitating the talks and pushing toward a political track, according to WAM. The meeting follows renewed diplomatic activity by Washington aimed at assessing prospects for limited confidence-building measures amid continued fighting on the ground.
The UAE has previously played a significant mediating role between Moscow and Kyiv, having successfully brokered 17 prisoner exchange operations that led to the release of 4,641 detainees from both sides. Those efforts have strengthened Abu Dhabi’s standing as a neutral intermediary capable of engaging all parties.
Delegations and agenda
The Kremlin confirmed that the Russian delegation is composed exclusively of military representatives and is headed by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the delegation departed Moscow early Friday after receiving instructions from President Vladimir Putin following overnight discussions with U.S. representatives.
Peskov said the trilateral meeting would be held on Friday and, “if necessary,” continue on Saturday. He declined to disclose details of the agenda but reiterated that Moscow maintains its long-standing position that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the Donbas region, describing this as a “critically important condition” for Russia.
Separately, Peskov said Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev would hold a face-to-face meeting in Abu Dhabi with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss economic issues, signaling that parallel tracks may be running alongside the political and security talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky provided detailed information on Kyiv’s delegation, which is led by chief negotiator Rustem Umerov. The team includes Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s presidential office; parliamentary negotiator David Arakhamia; and Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov. Zelensky also said he instructed military intelligence to send its deputy head, Vadym Skibitskyi, ensuring representation from both the armed forces and intelligence services.
Ukrainian diplomats are also participating, including Serhiy Kyslytsya, first deputy head of the presidential office. Some members of the Ukrainian delegation traveled directly to Abu Dhabi from the World Economic Forum in Davos, underscoring the compressed and high-level nature of the diplomatic engagement.
A cautious step amid deep divisions
While expectations for a breakthrough remain limited given entrenched positions on territorial control and security guarantees, analysts say the very fact that the three parties are meeting in the same venue represents a notable diplomatic development. Since 2022, contacts between Russia and Ukraine have been largely indirect, with mediation efforts fragmented across multiple capitals.
By hosting the talks, the UAE continues to position itself as a neutral platform for conflict mediation, leveraging its balanced relations with global powers and its track record in humanitarian diplomacy. Whether the Abu Dhabi talks can move beyond exploratory discussions toward confidence-building measures remains uncertain, but diplomats say even incremental progress could help lay the groundwork for more substantive negotiations in the future.
