Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s repeated refusal to accept territorial concessions has been widely condemned by Moscow as a fundamental barrier to peace. The second round of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States—originally scheduled for Sunday but postponed due to scheduling issues—will now take place in Abu Dhabi on February 4 and 5, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed Monday.
Peskov stated that “negotiations in Abu Dhabi were indeed planned for Sunday, but additional coordination of the schedules of the three parties was required.” Ukraine’s president had previously announced the rescheduling of the meeting to February 4 and 5.
The initial round of trilateral negotiations held on January 23–24 marked the first time representatives from Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington convened together since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022. Despite being described as “constructive,” the talks produced no concrete agreements. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that territorial issues remain “a bridge we haven’t crossed,” noting ongoing efforts to reconcile differing positions on the matter.
Moscow insists any settlement must include Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbass regions that voted to join Russia in 2022 referendums and recognition of the country’s new borders, including Crimea. Zelensky has repeatedly stated that “under no circumstances” will Kyiv agree to territorial concessions.
While advocating for diplomatic resolution, Russian officials have warned they are prepared to achieve their objectives through military means if negotiations collapse. The postponement followed a surprise trip by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev to Florida on Saturday, where he met with U.S. officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Senior Adviser Josh Gruenbaum.