Abu Dhabi Talks Between Moscow and Kyiv: Limited Progress and Deferred Disputes

Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the United States in Abu Dhabi, ended without a major breakthrough, amid persistent core disagreements, though the parties agreed to hold another round in early February.

The negotiations, held on January 23–24 in the UAE capital, concluded without concrete agreements, as Moscow maintained its demand for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from eastern regions, particularly parts of Donetsk, a condition Kyiv continues to reject.

On the ground, Russian military operations inside Ukraine continued, a move observers interpreted as an attempt by Moscow to strengthen its negotiating position, while stressing the importance of keeping diplomatic channels open.

Russian analysts suggested that Kyiv may be seeking to prolong negotiations in anticipation of political shifts in the United States, while Moscow reiterated that any ceasefire would depend on meeting its core conditions. Meanwhile, Ukrainian experts described the Abu Dhabi talks as a notable development, as they brought together Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv at the same table for the first time to discuss specific security issues.

Others, however, warned against excessive optimism, arguing that continued Russian strikes during the talks signal a lack of seriousness, and predicting a new round of military escalation in the near future.