The United Arab Emirates is set to host unprecedented trilateral talks this week involving officials from Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, with the goal of addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
First Trilateral Meeting Since Conflict Escalated
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the upcoming discussions, marking the first time all three countries will convene in a direct trilateral format since the conflict escalated. He expressed hope that these talks could help pave the way toward ending the conflict.
Meeting Details and Participants
The trilateral technical-level meeting is scheduled for January 23 and 24, 2026, in the United Arab Emirates. The discussions are described as “technical-level” meetings and “military to military” working groups. A US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff and a Russian delegation headed by General Igor Kostyukov, director of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, are confirmed to be attending. It remains unclear whether Russian and Ukrainian officials will engage in direct face-to-face negotiations.
