Negotiations Without Illusions: What Is Known About a Possible New Ukraine–US–Russia Meeting
A new meeting of the negotiating teams of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia may preliminarily take place on Sunday, February 1, but the final date has not yet been fixed. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who emphasized that the Ukrainian side is ready to continue diplomatic efforts and will be максимально prepared to discuss key issues. According to him, the possibility of holding the meeting earlier is also being considered, if circumstances allow.
Kyiv’s position remains unchanged. Ukraine stands for a peaceful settlement, but insists that the diplomatic process must deliver concrete results rather than turn into a tool for delaying time. Zelenskyy separately warned that negotiations must not be used by Russia to reduce or postpone international pressure, which remains a critically important factor in deterring aggression.
“Ukraine has always been and will remain on the side of peace, and the only reason this war continues is Russia. We need real results from diplomacy. There must be no impression that the Russians are using the negotiation process with a very cynical and harsh goal to push back new pressure measures on Russia that could work. And pressure is needed… Partners must not forget this,” the president stated.
These words clearly outline the framework in which Kyiv views any negotiation format: dialogue is possible only as a path to practical solutions, not as an end in itself. That is why the Ukrainian side is cautious both in commenting on dates and on the possible parameters of future meetings. The previous round of negotiations in a trilateral format took place on January 23 and 24 in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. These were two-day meetings involving representatives of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia a format that had not been used for a long time. According to Zelenskyy, the talks were constructive, and the parties discussed possible parameters for ending the war, security issues, and American monitoring of the process.
“This is the first such format in quite a long time two-day trilateral meetings. We managed to discuss a lot, and it is important that the conversations were constructive,” the president noted.
At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities avoid inflated expectations. The actual result of these talks was an agreement by the parties to report to their leaders on what was discussed and to determine readiness for further steps. Provided such readiness exists, the next meeting may take place in the near future, but without specific guarantees regarding content or outcomes. It is important that not only diplomats but also military representatives took part in the discussions. This indicates that the talks focused not on declarative statements, but on practical security parameters, control mechanisms, and possible ways to implement agreements should they be reached. The president separately thanked the United Arab Emirates for its mediation and willingness to host further meetings, emphasizing that Ukraine is working for peace and security, but not at the expense of its own interests or sovereignty.
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Overall, the situation surrounding possible negotiations remains dynamic. The mere fact of preparing a new meeting does not in itself mean a breakthrough, but it does indicate an attempt to move the diplomatic process into a more structured framework. At the same time, Ukrainian rhetoric clearly signals to partners: any dialogue makes sense only if pressure on Russia is maintained and there is real readiness to move toward ending the war, rather than freezing it. In this sense, future negotiations if they take place will rather become a test of the seriousness of the parties’ intentions than a guarantee of quick results. Ukraine, as the president emphasizes, is ready to move forward, but only within boundaries where diplomacy does not replace the responsibility of the aggressor.
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