High-level delegations from the United States, Russia and Ukraine arrived in Abu Dhabi today (Friday) for two days of talks aimed at advancing a possible end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, as diplomatic momentum collides with unresolved territorial disputes and continued fighting on the ground.
The meetings, described by Moscow as “security talks,” come after intensive shuttle diplomacy that included a late-night, three-hour meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The Kremlin said the discussions extended into the early hours of Friday and were constructive, though no details were disclosed.
Russia confirmed that its delegation to Abu Dhabi is led by General Igor Kostyukov, director of the GRU military intelligence agency, dw.com reports.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said the talks would focus on security issues, while Russia’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev is scheduled to hold separate discussions with Witkoff on economic matters.
Ushakov said Moscow remains interested in resolving the conflict through political and diplomatic means but stressed that Russia would continue pursuing its objectives on the battlefield until an agreement is reached. Russian officials have repeatedly warned that a lasting peace is impossible without addressing territorial questions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv’s negotiating team was en route to the United Arab Emirates for meetings with both the American and Russian sides. Writing on social media late Thursday, he said Ukraine would assess the progress of the talks before deciding on its next steps.
The Abu Dhabi talks follow a meeting between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos a day earlier.
Trump described the discussion as “good” and part of an ongoing process, while Zelenskyy said the terms of postwar security guarantees for Ukraine had been finalized. However, he acknowledged that the issue of territory remains unresolved, calling the final stage of negotiations “very difficult.”
Despite the renewed diplomatic push, hostilities continued overnight. Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on an oil storage facility in the Russian city of Penza, around 500 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Regional Governor Oleg Melnychenko said air defenses shot down four drones, but debris from one ignited a fire at the depot.
The blaze broke out around 4 a.m. local time, with 26 firefighters and 14 fire engines deployed. Authorities reported no casualties, and emergency services continued efforts to extinguish the fire. Russia’s Defense Ministry said a total of 12 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones were intercepted overnight.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, particularly refineries and storage facilities linked to military fuel supplies, as part of its broader strategy to disrupt Russia’s war effort.
As negotiators gather in Abu Dhabi, expectations remain cautious. While officials on all sides have signaled a willingness to engage, deep divisions — especially over territory — threaten to test whether the latest round of talks can translate diplomatic optimism into a durable ceasefire.
