Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that the forthcoming bilateral negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi could potentially last for two days, according to Russian state media reports. This scheduling flexibility suggests the complexity of the issues slated for discussion during the upcoming session on February first.
These high-level discussions will focus exclusively on the conflict, with US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly absent from this specific round. The meeting structure confirms a direct engagement between Kyiv and Moscow regarding the war's cessation.
Further context provided by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that security guarantees form a central pillar of the agenda. These proposed guarantees reportedly involve the potential deployment of British and French troops to Ukraine, alongside ongoing assurances of support from the United States.
This planned engagement follows a previously concluded round of tripartite talks in the UAE which, as reported by Reuters at the time, had reached a deadlock. The resumption of direct dialogue underscores continued, albeit difficult, diplomatic efforts.
The willingness to allocate up to two days for the negotiations signals an intent to make substantive progress on security architecture, a critical sticking point in prior peace discussions. The outcomes will significantly influence the geopolitical calculus across Eastern Europe.
Observers note that the inclusion of Western security assurances in the agenda reveals a multilateral dimension to the bilateral dispute. Moscow’s reaction to proposals involving NATO-aligned nation troop presence remains a key variable to monitor.
