Russia, Ukraine begin 2nd round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi | WAM/Handout via Xinhua
Delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States have convened in the United Arab Emirates for a critical second round of peace negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year war, with discussions scheduled to run through February 5, 2026.
The talks, hosted in Abu Dhabi’s diplomatic venues, follow the first round of discussions held in late January the first formal trilateral engagement since the full-scale invasion began in 2022 — and resume after a brief postponement from an earlier planned date to allow all parties to coordinate schedules.
Ukrainian negotiators arrived in the UAE capital and commenced initial meetings on Wednesday, as confirmed by Reuters, with expectations that the talks will focus on addressing the fundamental issues of the conflict, especially territorial control and security guarantees that remain major points of contention.
Ukraine’s delegation, led by officials including Rustem Umerov, said the process began in a trilateral format involving United States representatives alongside Russian negotiators, with subsequent work planned in smaller, issue-specific subgroups before returning to full-table discussions.
The United Arab Emirates widely seen as a neutral venue — reiterated its role in facilitating a constructive environment for dialogue, drawing on its diplomatic relationships with all sides to host the negotiations.
Despite the diplomatic push, the war continues on the ground. Recent weeks have seen intensified Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian targets, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to adjust Kyiv’s negotiating stance and call for stronger international responses to Moscow’s actions even as talks proceed.
Key issues on the table include:
- Territorial disputes, particularly over regions such as Donbas and Crimea, where Moscow insists on control and Kyiv refuses concessions;
- Security guarantees for Ukraine in any post-war settlement;
- Mechanisms for a ceasefire and enforcement protocols designed to end hostilities;
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that both progress and divergence exist across different topics, noting that “on some issues, finding common ground remains harder,” even as talks set a schedule for February 4–5.
U.S. officials, including special envoys accompanying both sides, continue to emphasize that while expectations for a breakthrough remain tempered, diplomatic engagement is essential for any long-term resolution, and that negotiations offer a vital forum for addressing the war’s unrelenting human and geopolitical toll.
