In the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, the first stage of direct dialogue involving representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States has concluded as part of the US plan to stop the war in Ukraine. Ukraine’s presidential administration said on the evening of January 23: “talks are over for today.”
Rustem Umerov, described as Ukraine’s chief negotiator, wrote on X that the meeting focused on “decisive factors” that could bring the war to an end, and also discussed the order and logic in which further negotiations would continue.
Additional meetings are reportedly scheduled for January 24. Consultations in this format are being noted as the first trilateral direct dialogue around the US peace plan since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine.
At the same time, ahead of the talks, Moscow once again reiterated one of its toughest conditions: Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entire Donbas, including areas that were not previously under Russian control. Ukraine is said to be strongly rejecting this demand.
The key question now is whether the extended meetings on January 24 will bring the sides closer to a “road map” or whether each will dig in even harder on its “red lines.” One thing is clear: every next round in Abu Dhabi could send a signal to the entire region and the world.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
