President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that trilateral negotiations will take place in Abu Dhabi, with the future of the Donbas region set as the key agenda item. The announcement follows a four-hour meeting between Donald Trump's envoys and Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

Axios reported the developments, citing its own sources. According to the publication, White House representatives Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Josh Grunbaum arrived in Moscow immediately after Trump's meeting with Zelensky in Davos. Their talks with Putin lasted four hours and focused on the U.S. plan to end the war.

The next stage will involve trilateral talks in the UAE featuring delegations from Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.

"The Donbas issue is key. It will be discussed, along with the modality of how the three parties see it, in Abu Dhabi today and tomorrow," Zelensky told reporters.

The President also described his meeting with Trump and his team as "positive." He noted that Kyiv raised the issues of air defense and security guarantees, which Ukraine is "ready to sign."

Meanwhile, the Kremlin voiced a hardline stance ahead of the Abu Dhabi round. Putin aide Yuri Ushakov called the conversation with the Americans "substantive and very frank" but issued an ultimatum regarding territories.

"Without a resolution to the territorial question, there is no prospect for a long-term settlement," Ushakov said, reiterating Moscow's demand for the transfer of the entire Donbas to Russian control—a point allegedly discussed at the Trump-Putin summit back in August.

Sources indicate that while the U.S. is close to an agreement with Ukraine on a peace plan, it has not yet achieved clear success in persuading Putin.

The composition of the negotiating teams in Abu Dhabi has been revealed:

  • Ukraine: Chief Negotiator Rustem Umerov, Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov, Diplomatic Advisor Sergiy Kyslytsya, "Servant of the People" faction leader David Arakhamia, and Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov.

  • USA: Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll.

  • Russia: Special Representative Kirill Dmitriev and a group led by GRU Chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov.