Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine will take part in trilateral talks with the United States and Russia aimed at ending the war, with discussions expected to take place in the United Arab Emirates. The announcement came after Zelensky met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Diplomatic efforts appeared to gain momentum following the meeting. Trump described his talks with Zelensky as positive, while US special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff was accompanied by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Speaking before leaving Davos, Witkoff expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached. He said negotiations had narrowed down to a single unresolved issue, adding that it was “solvable” after multiple proposals had been discussed.
Eastern Ukraine Still the Main Obstacle
Although Witkoff did not publicly identify the remaining sticking point, Zelensky later confirmed that the future status of eastern Ukraine remains unresolved. He said the planned talks in the Emirates would include representatives from Russia, the US, and Ukraine.
Zelensky stressed that compromise would be required from all sides, not just Kyiv. “The Russians have to be ready for compromises, not only Ukraine,” he said.
Addressing reporters in Davos, Zelensky said land ownership and control remained the central issue. He added that trilateral negotiations could offer alternative solutions that might bridge the gap between the two sides.
US Proposal for Donbas and Security Guarantees
According to Zelensky, the US proposal for Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region involves creating a demilitarised free economic zone in exchange for security guarantees for Ukraine. Witkoff said working groups would later meet in Abu Dhabi to discuss both military matters and economic development.
Witkoff said that if there was genuine willingness on both sides, an agreement could still be achieved.
Zelensky also said he had reached an understanding with Trump regarding future US security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. While he did not provide details, he noted that any agreement would require approval from both the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament.
European Role and US Backstop
The Ukrainian leader said the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” led by the UK and France, had pledged forces on the ground to help monitor a potential deal. However, he insisted that US backing would still be essential.
“No security guarantees work without the US,” Zelensky said.
Earlier in Davos, Zelensky criticised European leaders for what he described as a lack of political resolve in confronting Russia. He said internal disagreements within Europe had weakened its ability to act decisively, drawing a contrast with the US under Trump’s leadership.
War Conditions and Ongoing Disputes
Zelensky arrived in Davos after travelling overnight, having initially postponed the trip due to Russian strikes on Kyiv’s power infrastructure. Large parts of the capital remain without heating, water, or electricity during one of the harshest winters since Russia launched its full-scale invasion nearly four years ago.
He reiterated that a US-backed 20-point peace plan was close to completion, but acknowledged that Ukraine and Russia still held opposing positions on Donbas. Under the proposal, Ukraine has offered to withdraw troops up to 40 kilometres from parts of the Donetsk region it still controls, provided Russia does the same.
Another unresolved issue is the future control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian control since March 2022.
Russia’s Kremlin said talks with US envoys would continue but declined to comment on the likelihood of a breakthrough. Russian forces have continued to make slow advances in eastern Ukraine over the past year.
Zelensky confirmed that several senior Ukrainian officials would be involved in the talks, underlining the seriousness of the negotiations as diplomatic efforts intensify.