The first message after the end of direct Russia-Ukraine-US peace talks hosted by the United Arab Emirates
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (Center), talking to the heads of delegations participating in the trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine. Photo source: AFP / AFP / Profimedia
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Moscow remains open to continuing the dialogue, the state news agency RIA reported at the end of the second day of the trilateral hosted in Abu Dhabi, Reuters reports.
The territorial issue remains the main point of disagreement between the parties, and the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas remains a priority for Russia, a source close to the negotiations told the Russian news agency TASS on Saturday.
“This issue remains the most complicated,” the source said. “The withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from Donbas is important, and various security parameters are being considered regarding this issue.”
On January 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and businessman Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. The meeting was described by Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov as extremely substantial, constructive, sincere and based on trust. The talks lasted about four hours.
The Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi was led by Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Army. Ukrainian negotiators are led by the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov.
Suspense in the second day of US-Russia-Ukraine negotiations. The state media in Moscow writes about what was discussed behind closed doors
A little information about the negotiations
The two-day meeting ended without any details or clear conclusions being announced by the Russian and Ukrainian delegations
Despite the first trilateral meeting since the beginning of the conflict, the Russians did not stop the bombing and attacked the two largest cities of Ukraine, Kiev and Kharkiv, on the night of Friday to Saturday.
So far, all three camps have been cautious and have not made statements about what was discussed behind closed doors.
