Officials from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States held their first trilateral summit since the 2022 invasion on January 23 to 24, 2026, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The talks focused on a peace framework proposed by the Trump administration to end the nearly four-year-old war.
The Friday talks in Abu Dhabi mark the highest-level known meeting between the three parties since the war began, as Ukraine grapples with a severe winter and widespread damage to its civilian energy infrastructure from Russian strikes.
Talks concluded without final agreement
The sessions concluded without a final agreement, as major disagreements over territorial control remain. Russia team’s included a top spy and military intelligence chief, Ukraine’s delegation included diplomats and security officials, whilst the US was represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff characterized the talks as “very constructive,” and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy described them as a “step” toward ending the war. A second round of trilateral negotiations is scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi on February 1, 2026.
Russia demands Donbas withdrawal
Russia continues to demand full Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donbas region (approximately 20% of which is still held by Ukraine), while Kyiv rejects relinquishing territory without robust security guarantees.
A proposal was discussed for Russia to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in exchange for Ukraine refraining from strikes on Russian oil refineries and tankers. Zelenskyy indicated that “security guarantees for Ukraine” have been largely finalized in parallel talks with President Trump, though they require legislative approval.
Discussions included using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrainian reconstruction and a proposed $1 billion fee for a “Board of Peace.”
“Anchorage Formula” requires Ukraine to cede Donbas
After the meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state news agency TASS that Moscow aims to draft a plan that “fully aligns with the key understandings” reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump during their summit in Alaska last year.
The “Anchorage Formula” is a reported, unconfirmed peace proposal touted by Russia, allegedly stemming from a potential Putin-Trump summit in Alaska in August 2025.
Russia insists the formula requires Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts). This would require Ukraine to withdraw from approximately 5,000 sq km of territory it still holds in those areas.
Elsewhere in southern and eastern Ukraine, the current battlefield front lines would be frozen. The formula has been integrated into a revised 20-point peace plan that addresses economic reconstruction and security guarantees.
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