Diplomacy takes center stage as U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian delegations prepare for unprecedented three-way talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday—the first in four years. This follows intense Kremlin discussions aimed at jumpstarting stalled peace negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war.
President Putin engaged deeply with a high-profile U.S. team: Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and acquisition chief Josh Gruenbaum. The four-hour deliberation included Russian heavyweights Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev. In a media call, Ushakov hailed it as a candid and effective dialogue.
Key highlight: A new security working group convenes in Abu Dhabi under Admiral Igor Kostyukov of GRU, bearing Putin’s explicit directives. Side sessions on U.S.-Russia commerce feature Witkoff and Dmitriev, signaling broader bilateral resets.
Ushakov drove home Russia’s preconditions: Regional conflicts must precede any Moscow-Kiev accord. Diplomacy is preferred, he affirmed, yet battlefield momentum favors Russian forces should negotiations stall.
Fresh from Davos WEF, where Trump conferred with Zelenskyy, the U.S. leader projected confidence in peace prospects during his flight back, citing borders as the crux.
Abu Dhabi’s selection as venue lends impartiality, positioning the UAE as a pivotal mediator. After years of proxy skirmishes and sanctions, this forum tests whether adversaries can pivot from attrition to accommodation. Detailed agendas remain under wraps, but expectations run high for de-escalatory steps amid humanitarian crises and economic ripples worldwide.