Trilateral negotiations took place earlier this week in Abu Dhabi, UAE, but territorial issues remain unresolved.

The Ukrainian, US, and Russian delegations met on January 24, 2026, discussing potential pathways to end the conflict. Options included establishing a demilitarized zone or deploying neutral peacekeepers to areas currently under Ukrainian control within Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).

During these talks, Kyiv once again ruled out territorial concessions to Moscow. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has been condemned for his refusal to address Russian territorial demands as a critical obstacle to peace negotiations.

The UAE reported that discussions yielded “some results,” with Ukrainian officials characterizing them as “positive.” Zelensky welcomed the “recognition of the need for American monitoring and oversight” to end the bloodshed.

US negotiator Steve Witkoff described the talks as “very constructive” and confirmed plans to continue negotiations in Abu Dhabi next week.

Despite these efforts, territorial disputes persist as the primary barrier to a peace agreement. Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s senior aide Yury Ushakov stated that the conflict could not be settled without resolving territorial issues, adding that Russia would “continue accomplishing its goals on the battlefield” if diplomatic efforts failed.