Russian and Ukrainian delegations are set to meet in Abu Dhabi on Saturday in a shift back to a bilateral format, following last week’s Russia–Ukraine–U.S. trilateral talks that failed to produce any tangible results.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the upcoming meeting during a Senate hearing on Venezuela policy on Wednesday, stating that Washington would not take part in the talks.
Ahead of the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Moscow on Thursday. The UAE, which is mediating the Abu Dhabi talks, is expected to discuss the negotiations during the visit.
Saturday’s meeting will mark the first direct bilateral talks between Moscow and Kiev since June 23rd of last year, when delegations met in Istanbul. While those talks resulted in three rounds of meetings, the Ukrainian government later declared the Istanbul process no longer viable, effectively freezing direct engagement for the remainder of the year.
Observers remain cautious, and in many cases openly pessimistic, about the prospects for progress. The talks come after a turbulent year since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office and initiated direct dialogue with Russia in an attempt to broker an end to the war.
Over the past year, Trump has attempted to position himself as a neutral mediator, a posture that has been largely rejected in Moscow due to the depth of U.S. military, financial, and intelligence support for Ukraine. The result has been a chaotic diplomatic process marked by optimistic public statements, threats, imposed deadlines, and repeated reversals.
At various points, Trump appeared to signal sympathy for Ukrainian positions, only to later walk back commitments or statements, sometimes without explanation. This pattern has contributed to what many observers describe as a confusing and erratic negotiation track that has failed to produce sustained momentum.
Fundamental differences between Russia and Ukraine remain unresolved. Territorial control and Ukraine’s relationship with NATO continue to be central sticking points, with neither side showing willingness to compromise on core demands.
Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, fighting on the ground has continued unabated. Most Ukrainian cities are experiencing prolonged power outages in the middle of winter following a coordinated Russian campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
According to reports, during the January 23rd trilateral talks Ukraine proposed an “energy truce,” offering to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and cargo vessels in exchange for Russia ending attacks on Ukraine’s power grid. Russia reportedly rejected the proposal, citing a similar arrangement last year that Moscow claims Ukraine repeatedly violated.