Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Rescheduled for February 4-5 in Abu Dhabi

Rescheduled Talks Confirmed by Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday, February 1, 2026, that peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have been rescheduled. The next round of trilateral meetings is set to occur on February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Zelenskyy conveyed this information via a Telegram post and on the social media platform X, stating that Ukraine is prepared for a 'substantive discussion' and seeks an outcome leading to a 'real and dignified end to the war'.

Context and Previous Engagements

These upcoming talks follow a postponement of discussions originally slated for February 1. The delay was attributed to the need to align the schedules of all participating parties: Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S.. Prior to this, a meeting between Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and a U.S. delegation took place in Florida. The U.S. delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Jared Kushner, and White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum.

Previous rounds of tripartite talks have also been held in Abu Dhabi, specifically on December 23-24 and January 23-24. These discussions are part of a year-long diplomatic effort by the Trump administration to facilitate a peace agreement.

Key Sticking Points and Diplomatic Positions

A central and persistent challenge in the negotiations remains the issue of territorial control, particularly concerning Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, the Donbas region. Ukraine maintains its position of not ceding the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Russia, conversely, continues to demand the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas. Other difficult issues include control over the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia's participation in the rescheduled talks, noting that while some progress has been made on certain issues, finding common ground on others remains challenging. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an interview, reportedly sought to influence the U.S. administration, advocating for direct negotiations solely between the U.S. and Russia, thereby excluding Ukraine and European nations.

Concerns Over Neutrality

The choice of Abu Dhabi as a venue has drawn scrutiny. Political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky raised concerns about the city's neutrality, citing a recent friendly meeting between the UAE ruler and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite these complexities, significant breakthroughs on territorial issues are not widely anticipated before at least March 2026.