Russia has confirmed it will take part in security talks with the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on Friday, while stressing that a lasting peace settlement will remain out of reach unless territorial questions are addressed. The announcement followed late-night talks in Moscow between President Vladimir Putin and a delegation of US envoys. The meeting began shortly before midnight and lasted around four hours.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov described the discussions as “substantive, constructive and very frank,” but stopped short of declaring any major breakthrough.
Territory Named as Core Obstacle
Ushakov said Russian officials reiterated that territorial issues must be resolved in line with a framework discussed during last year’s Trump–Putin summit in Alaska.
“Without settling the territorial question under the agreed formula, there is no prospect of a long-term settlement,” Ushakov said.
He added that while Moscow remains open to diplomacy, Russia would continue pursuing what it calls its “special military operation” until those conditions are met, particularly on the battlefield where he said Russian forces currently hold the strategic initiative.
Russian Delegation and Separate Economic Talks
According to Ushakov, Admiral Igor Kostyukov will lead Russia’s delegation at the Abu Dhabi security talks. Separately, investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss economic matters.
On the Russian side, Putin, Ushakov and Dmitriev were present at the Moscow talks.
Expanded US Delegation
The US delegation included Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who previously met Putin in the Kremlin in December. They were joined by Josh Gruenbaum, recently appointed as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
The meeting marked the latest step in Trump’s push to bring an end to the conflict, now approaching its fourth year and widely regarded as Europe’s deadliest war since World War Two.
Ukraine Rejects Territorial Concessions
Witkoff had earlier said negotiations had narrowed to a single unresolved issue, though he did not specify what it was. Ushakov’s emphasis on territory aligns with Russia’s long-standing demands.
Moscow is seeking Ukraine’s withdrawal from the remaining areas it controls in the eastern Donetsk region, while also demanding that Kyiv abandon its ambition to join NATO and reject any future NATO troop presence on Ukrainian soil.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly ruled out ceding territory, arguing that Ukraine has defended those areas at significant human and military cost.
After meeting Trump in Switzerland earlier this week, Zelenskiy said security guarantees had been finalised, but acknowledged that the territorial dispute remained unresolved.
War Continues as Talks Loom
Ukraine is currently enduring one of the harshest winters of the war, with Russian missile and drone strikes targeting energy infrastructure. Prolonged power outages have left large numbers of residents in Kyiv and other cities without heating in sub-zero temperatures.
Kyiv cites the attacks as evidence that Moscow lacks genuine interest in peace, a claim Russia denies, arguing that its advances have come at significant cost.
Ushakov praised the US for its role in organising Friday’s meeting in Abu Dhabi, saying Washington hopes the talks will create momentum toward ending the conflict.
“They believe this meeting can open prospects for progress across the full range of issues connected to a peace agreement,” he said.