A second round of trilateral peace negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States has been rescheduled for February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi, according to an announcement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The talks, which were initially expected to take place over the weekend, were postponed following an unplanned meeting between American and Russian representatives in Florida.
The delay marks another shift in the timeline for negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year war. The first round of trilateral discussions took place in late January in the United Arab Emirates capital but yielded minimal progress on critical territorial disputes between the warring nations.
Zelenskyy Announces New Dates
Zelenskyy revealed the revised schedule through posts on social media platforms X and Telegram on Sunday. In his statement, the Ukrainian leader emphasized his country’s readiness for the upcoming discussions. “Ukraine is ready for a meaningful dialogue, and we are interested in ensuring that the results bring us closer to a real and dignified end to the war,” he wrote.
The Ukrainian president did not provide a specific explanation for why the talks were pushed back from their originally anticipated date. The announcement came shortly after US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff held discussions with Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin’s special envoy and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, in Miami on Saturday.
US-Russia Meeting Precedes Delay
The Saturday meeting between Witkoff and Dmitriev took place without Ukrainian representatives present. Following the discussions, Witkoff described the encounter as “productive and constructive” in a social media post. The Kremlin has not officially confirmed the new dates for the trilateral talks, nor has the United States government issued a formal confirmation.
The unilateral nature of the US-Russia meeting raised questions about coordination among the three parties. Ukrainian officials were not invited to participate in the Florida discussions, which occurred just one day before the scheduled trilateral session was delayed.
Territorial Disputes Remain Central Challenge
The upcoming negotiations will face significant hurdles as Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw its forces from the eastern Donbas region. This territorial requirement remains a point of firm resistance from Zelenskyy’s administration, which has rejected Russian claims to Ukrainian territory.
Analysts expect the Abu Dhabi talks to focus heavily on security guarantees for Ukraine and the ongoing territorial disagreements that have stalled previous negotiations. The first round of trilateral meetings in late January failed to produce breakthroughs on these core issues.
Energy Ceasefire Adds Complexity
The rescheduled talks come amid confusion surrounding a temporary ceasefire on energy infrastructure. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to suspend attacks on energy facilities for a week due to severe winter conditions. The arrangement’s specifics remained unclear, with the Kremlin stating the halt would last until Sunday while Ukrainian officials interpreted it as extending to the following Friday.
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has faced relentless assaults during one of the harshest winters in recent memory, adding urgency to the negotiations. The temporary pause in strikes was intended to provide relief during the severe weather, though both sides appeared to have different understandings of the timeline.
Trump Administration’s Peace Push
The delayed negotiations represent the latest development in the Trump administration’s efforts to broker a settlement. The president, who has expressed a desire to be regarded as a “peacemaker,” has repeatedly suggested that a resolution to the conflict is imminent. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev echoed this sentiment on Sunday, telling Reuters that Russia would “soon” achieve military success.
The Abu Dhabi talks will test whether the three parties can overcome fundamental disagreements about Ukraine’s territorial integrity and security arrangements. With neither the Kremlin nor Washington officially confirming the new dates, uncertainties remain about whether all delegations will participate as Zelenskyy announced.
What to Expect from the February Talks
The negotiations are expected to address a 20-point peace plan being discussed among the three nations. Security guarantees for Ukraine remain a critical priority for Kyiv, which has prepared a document outlining its requirements for post-war stability. Zelenskyy previously indicated that this document is fully ready for review.
The trilateral format represents a departure from earlier peace efforts that excluded direct Ukrainian participation. By including representatives from all three nations, the talks aim to create a more comprehensive framework for ending the conflict, though significant differences persist between the parties.
As the February 4-5 dates approach, diplomatic observers will watch closely to see whether the delayed timeline allows for better preparation or signals deeper coordination problems among the negotiating teams.
