Ukraine, Russia and U.S. to hold first trilateral talks in UAE

ALBAWABA- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the United States will hold their first trilateral talks since the start of the war, meeting in the United Arab Emirates on January 23 and 24, in what he described as a potential opening to revive stalled peace efforts.

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Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Zelenskyy said the discussions would take place at a technical level and are being brokered by Washington, following what he called a “productive” bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The talks are expected to focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and frameworks for economic recovery, though Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv is seeking “concrete results, not symbolic meetings.” He also criticized some European allies for lacking sufficient “political will” to confront Russian aggression.

The announcement comes nearly four years into the war, amid intensified diplomatic activity led by U.S. envoys. Trump’s representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held separate meetings with Russian officials in Davos earlier this week before traveling to Moscow for further talks with President Vladimir Putin.

The diplomatic push coincides with a renewed escalation on the battlefield. Russia has stepped up missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving more than 60 percent of Kyiv without electricity during winter blackouts. 

On the ground, Russian forces reportedly captured around 36 square miles in the past week, particularly near Kostyantynivka, while Ukrainian troops advanced in parts of western Zaporizhia Oblast. Both sides continue to suffer heavy casualties, with Ukrainian officials describing Russian losses as increasingly unsustainable.