By Mitchell McCluskey and Kosta Gak, CNN
(CNN) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday highlighted progress made by Russian, Ukrainian and American negotiators in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi, even as the path to achieving peace remains unclear.
“A lot was discussed, and it is important that the conversations were constructive,” Zelensky wrote on social media, adding, “The central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending the war.”
The trilateral talks held on Friday and Saturday were the first time that officials from all three countries sat down together since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. One US official said the meeting marked a significant step forward after months of quiet diplomacy, stressing that while a final deal is not guaranteed, progress would not have been possible without face-to-face talks.
The diplomatic effort came as Russia launched its largest overnight aerial attack on Ukraine so far this year.
Though the two-day session did not yield a breakthrough, the parties signaled hope for a future deal.
“Provided there is readiness to move forward – and Ukraine is ready – further meetings will take place, potentially as early as next week,” Zelensky said.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff similarly characterized the talks as “very constructive” and noted that “plans were made to continue conversations next week in Abu Dhabi.”
“President Trump and his entire team are dedicated to bringing peace to this war,” Witkoff said.
The next round of talks will begin in Abu Dhabi on February 1, US officials said.
On Sunday, Zelensky said that a document outlining security guarantees sought by Ukraine — a key issue for the country’s Ukraine’s postwar stability — is “100% ready.”
Kyiv is now hoping to set a time and place to sign the deal, he said.
“For us, security guarantees are primarily bilateral security guarantees with the US. The document is 100% ready. We expect our partners to be ready with the date and place when we will sign it,” Zelensky said at a news conference in Lithuania.
He added that the document will then need to be ratified by the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament.
The US has led bilateral negotiations with Ukraine and Russia for months, working to resolve the outstanding issues as the fighting rages on.
In Abu Dhabi, the negotiators discussed a revised 20-point plan that addresses issues of territory, economy, security, and other areas.
Despite the progress touted by the US and Ukrainian sides, the divisive issue of territory continued to be a point of contention, with no clear resolution met.
Control of the eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas, made up of the coal-rich regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, has been a core demand of Russia.
Ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine leaving the Donbas remains a key condition for Moscow.
“Russia’s position is well known: The Ukrainian armed forces must leave Donbas, must withdraw from there; this is a very important condition,” Peskov said.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterated this after the talks, telling state news agency TASS that Moscow wants to develop a plan that “fully corresponds to the fundamental understandings” reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump Read more