Trump-Led Peace Talks for Ukraine War Enter Second Day Amidst Territorial Disputes and Accusations of Civilian Targeting
Meta Description: Urgent negotiations are underway in Abu Dhabi, led by the US, to resolve the Ukraine war, but disagreements over territory and escalating attacks threaten progress.
Negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are continuing in Abu Dhabi for a second day, focused on a peace plan championed by US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the nearly four-year-long conflict. This marks the first known direct contact between Ukrainian and Russian officials regarding this specific proposal, which began on Thursday.
Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, indicated that discussions centered on “the parameters for ending Russia’s war and the further logic of the negotiation process.” However, the path to resolution remains fraught with obstacles. Initial drafts of a US proposal faced strong criticism from Kyiv and Western European nations for appearing to align too closely with Moscow’s demands. Subsequent revisions, in turn, drew resistance from Russia due to considerations of deploying European peacekeepers.
A central point of contention remains the fate of territory in the eastern Donbas region. Both sides acknowledge this as a key issue in reaching a settlement to a war that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions, and widespread devastation across Ukraine. The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Ministry affirmed that the talks are scheduled to last two days, representing “part of ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.”
The diplomatic push follows recent high-level meetings. President Trump engaged with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, and US envoy Steve Witkoff subsequently held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.
Escalating Conflict and Accusations of Deliberate Targeting
As the Abu Dhabi talks progress, the situation on the ground in Ukraine remains dire. Thousands in Kyiv are currently without heating amidst sub-zero temperatures due to sustained Russian strikes. The European Union has accused Russia of “deliberately depriving civilians of heat,” and has dispatched hundreds of generators to alleviate the crisis.
Overnight, further Russian strikes resulted in one fatality and 22 injuries in Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv, according to local authorities. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram that “Kyiv is under a massive enemy attack,” with several non-residential buildings sustaining damage, and urged residents to seek shelter.
Despite the renewed diplomatic efforts, Russia and Ukraine appear locked in a stalemate over territorial issues. Hours after a meeting between Mr. Putin and Mr. Witkoff – alongside Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner – in Moscow, the Kremlin reiterated its demand for a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas region.
“Russia’s position is well known on the fact that Ukraine, Ukrainian armed forces, have to leave the territory of the Donbas,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated. “This is a very important condition.” Ukraine, which currently controls approximately 20% of the eastern region, has firmly rejected these terms.
Trump Expresses Optimism, But Challenges Remain
President Trump has repeatedly expressed his belief that a deal between Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky is within reach. Prior to the commencement of the talks, Mr. Zelensky acknowledged that territory remains a “key issue,” reiterating Russia’s insistence on a Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas region. He also emphasized the need for a reciprocal desire for peace, stating online, “It is necessary that not only Ukraine has the desire to end the war and achieve full security, but that a similar desire somehow emerges in Russia as well.”
The last face-to-face meeting between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators occurred in Istanbul last summer, resulting only in agreements for prisoner exchanges. The current Abu Dhabi meeting represents the first opportunity for direct dialogue regarding the Trump administration’s proposed peace plan.
Mr. Putin has consistently maintained that Moscow intends to gain full control of eastern Ukraine, even resorting to force if negotiations fail. Following the Russia-US talks in the Kremlin, a Putin aide, Yuri Ushakov, asserted that Moscow is “genuinely interested in resolving” the war diplomatically, but added that Russia will “continue to achieve its objectives … on the battlefield” until a resolution is reached.
Mr. Trump has previously exerted pressure on Ukraine to accept terms considered by Kyiv as tantamount to surrender. He reiterated on Wednesday his conviction that Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky are close to an agreement, adding bluntly, “I believe they’re at a point now where they can come together and get a deal done. And if they don’t, they’re stupid – that goes for both of them.”
