By Rosemary
A new round of U.S.-brokered negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine is scheduled to take place this week following a brief delay, according to a senior Kremlin official, as fierce fighting continues along the front lines and long-range attacks strike deep into Ukrainian territory.
The trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States will be held Wednesday and Thursday in Abu Dhabi, the site of a previous round of discussions last month. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the dates on Monday, saying the meeting had been postponed from the weekend because of scheduling conflicts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Kyiv would send a delegation to the talks, signaling Ukraine’s continued engagement despite limited progress in earlier rounds. The negotiations come as the war approaches the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with no clear breakthrough in sight on the most contentious political and territorial issues.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has spent the past year urging both Moscow and Kyiv to seek compromises, portraying the talks as a necessary step toward de-escalation. However, diplomats and officials on all sides have acknowledged that positions remain far apart, particularly on questions of territory and security guarantees.
Peskov described the upcoming discussions as highly challenging, noting that while some issues have seen incremental movement, others remain deeply divisive. He told reporters that dialogue has helped narrow differences in certain areas, but admitted that on several core matters finding common ground has proven far more difficult.
Adding to the diplomatic activity surrounding the talks, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev traveled to Miami, Florida, over the weekend for meetings with American officials. The Kremlin declined to provide details of those discussions, fueling speculation about parallel channels of communication as Washington seeks leverage ahead of the Abu Dhabi meeting.
One of the central obstacles to any agreement remains the question of territory. Russia is insisting on retaining large swaths of Ukrainian land seized during the war, particularly in the eastern industrial regions, and is also demanding control over additional areas it has not fully occupied. Ukraine has repeatedly rejected such terms, arguing that any recognition of Russian territorial gains would reward aggression and undermine international law.
While diplomats prepare for talks, the war continues to exact a heavy toll on civilians. Russian drones and missiles have struck populated areas in recent days, including an attack on Sunday that killed 12 miners traveling on a bus. Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has also been repeatedly targeted, causing widespread power outages and leaving many communities without heat, electricity or running water during harsh winter conditions.
Ukrainian officials are also grappling with concerns over Russia’s alleged use of Starlink satellite internet services to guide drones. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Monday that authorities are implementing measures to prevent unauthorized use of the system by Russian forces. He said Ukraine has asked SpaceX, the company operated by Elon Musk, to assist in blocking access to the service within the country.
Under new rules, both civilian and military Starlink users in Ukraine are required to register their terminals in a government database. Approved devices will continue operating, while unregistered terminals will be disabled inside Ukrainian territory, Fedorov said, describing the move as a step to protect national security.
Musk said Sunday that efforts to stop unauthorized use of Starlink in Ukraine appeared to be working, adding that further action could be taken if necessary.
As delegations gather in Abu Dhabi, expectations for a rapid resolution remain low. Still, officials say the talks offer a rare opportunity for sustained dialogue at a moment when the battlefield situation and humanitarian costs continue to worsen, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic engagement even amid profound disagreements.
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