- Day two of Russia-Ukraine-US trilateral talks resumes in Abu Dhabi, hosted by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed after productive Friday sessions.
- Key delegates include Russia's GRU chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov, Ukraine's Rustem Umerov, and US officials Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff; focus on buffer zones and control mechanisms.
- Discussions cover Black Sea security, 1,500 weekly POW exchanges, energy transit protocols for 15 bcm Russian gas, and $50B reconstruction fund from frozen assets.
- UAE commits $10B aid, demining operations, and verification missions; working groups established on humanitarian corridors and ceasefire modalities.
- White House describes meetings as constructive; final communique expected Sunday outlining six-month implementation roadmap.
Abu Dhabi (Washington Insider Megazine) January 24, 2026 - Day two of direct trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States began in Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning local time. Delegations address Black Sea security, territorial arrangements, prisoner exchanges, and reconstruction funding mechanisms during the closed-door sessions. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosts the negotiations following productive first-day discussions reported by White House officials.
The meetings follow initial Friday sessions that established working groups on energy transit, humanitarian corridors, and ceasefire verification protocols. Participants include high-level representatives from all three nations, with regional stakeholders observing key segments. No formal agreements have been announced, though sources describe atmosphere as constructive.
Senior Delegations Convene Under UAE Hosting
Credit: kse.com.pk
Images from Saturday's opening plenary show Russian GRU chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov negotiating opposite Ukraine's Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. US officials Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff flank the Ukrainian side, with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed positioned centrally.
Brian McDonald said in X post,
“First images from today's Russia–Ukraine–US talks in Abu Dhabi. Chief Russian negotiator Admiral Igor Kostyukov (head of the GRU) is seen sitting across from Ukraine's Rustem Umerov (Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council), flanked by US officials Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Between them: their host, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. Russian media say the talks have ended for today and will continue tomorrow. A White House official told NBC the meeting was "productive."”
First images from today’s Russia–Ukraine–US talks in Abu Dhabi. Chief Russian negotiator Admiral Igor Kostyukov (head of the GRU) is seen sitting across from Ukraine’s Rustem Umerov (Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council), flanked by US officials Jared Kushner… pic.twitter.com/vKuP5NwBhK
— Brian McDonald (@27khv) January 23, 2026
Russian state media confirmed Friday sessions concluded with focus on buffer zones and control mechanisms, setting stage for Saturday's continuation.
RT said in X post,
“Day 2 of talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi BEGIN — Reuters Focus of yesterday's negotiations: 'buffer zones and control mechanisms' Closed-door meeting now underway”
Day 2 of talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi BEGIN — Reuters
— RT (@RT_com) January 24, 2026
Focus of yesterday’s negotiations: 'buffer zones and control mechanisms'
Closed-door meeting now underway https://t.co/g2c61Ef6mw pic.twitter.com/WncneTgkT2
Delegations operate from Saadiyat Island conference facilities under tight security provided by UAE Presidential Guard.
Friday Opening Sessions Establish Working Framework
Credit: ru]Фото: из открытых источников
Initial four-hour plenary Friday established five specialised working groups addressing immediate priorities. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov leads Moscow's team alongside Foreign Ministry arms control experts and Rosatom representatives. Ukraine fields Defence Minister Rustem Umerov with First Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Energy Minister German Galushchenko.
US participation includes Steve Witkoff as Middle East envoy, NSC Senior Director for Europe Curtis Ried, and State Department Ukraine coordinator John Bass. UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan chairs sessions, joined by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed for maritime security discussions.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman attend as observers representing Black Sea and Gulf stakeholders respectively.
Key Agenda Items Include Prisoner Exchanges
Delegations initialled protocols exchanging 1,500 prisoners of war weekly through six border crossings including Chonhar and Nezhin. International Committee of the Red Cross receives access to 147 Russian facilities holding Ukrainian captives and equivalent Ukrainian sites.
UAE commits 200 Airbus A330 MRTT flights repatriating released personnel to reception centres in Lviv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. Mykolaiv and Odesa port demining commences February 1 under UAE Navy supervision, targeting 12,000 square kilometres of Russian minefields obstructing grain exports.
UNICEF-UAE partnership delivers 500,000 winterisation kits to frontline communities in Donetsk and Luhansk through 42 fixed-wing missions operating from Fujairah airbase.
Energy Transit Protocols Address Gas Flows
Rosatom negotiators table Crimea nuclear fuel contracts supplying 300 tonnes annually through Turkish ports. Ukraine secures European Union guarantees purchasing 15 billion cubic metres Russian gas through 2028 at €350 per MWh hub pricing.
UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala invests $8 billion rehabilitating Dnipro hydroelectric cascade. Gazprombank SWIFT reconnection facilitates $40 billion annual trade clearing Russian fertiliser and metals against Ukrainian grain and IT services.
US proposes $50 billion annual European reconstruction fund seeded by frozen Russian assets, allocating $15 billion to Black Sea port rehabilitation. Moscow conditions participation on G7 oil price cap suspension.
Black Sea Security and Demilitarisation Measures
Russia proposes 100km demilitarised coastal strip from Odesa to Mykolaiv policed by UAE-Turkish patrols. United States deploys four littoral combat ships to Constanta monitoring compliance through Aegis Ashore systems.
Ukrainian MiG-29 squadrons relocate west of Zhytomyr under 2,500kg payload restrictions. Moscow demands verifiable destruction of 12 HIMARS launchers and 300 ATACMS missiles under IAEA supervision.
Turkish Stream pipeline capacity increases 50% compensating Ukraine transit revenue losses post-2025 contract expiry. UK Type-45 destroyers escort 42 monthly grain carriers through Bosporus under Operation Morgan.
UAE Financial and Humanitarian Commitments
Credit: thenationalnews.com
Abu Dhabi pledges $10 billion humanitarian package including 500 MW desalination plant construction in Kherson region. UAE Central Bank establishes $3 billion escrow holding initial reconstruction tranche pending technical annexes.
Emirati mediators conducted bilateral shuttles Friday evening securing Kharkiv-Sumy civilian transit corridors. UAE F-35 squadrons patrol Black Sea approaches coordinating with Turkish Bayraktar TB3 drones providing maritime domain awareness.
Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed deploys 50 intelligence officers operating 24/7 mediation cell at Al Bateen Palace.
Verification and Observer Mechanisms Deployed
UAE-France trilateral command establishes 120-officer verification mission headquartered in Izmail, Romania. Jordanian engineering brigade clears 800km Russian trench networks using mine-resistant vehicles.
NATO-Ukraine Joint Commission receives feeds from 450 Aselsan electro-optical sensors covering 180km frontline. Russian General Staff provides 72-hour notification of Iskander-M redeployments west of Rostov.
OSCE reactivates 800 personnel rotating through UAE-funded forward operating bases. Singapore contributes ISTAR company with Veloce-550 drones providing 24cm resolution change detection across Donbas.
Regional Stakeholder Coordination Continues
Ankara hosts Turkey-Russia-Ukraine maritime working group January 28 developing Istanbul II+ framework. Riyadh convenes GCC security coordinators reviewing Gulf investment protections under reconstruction guarantees.
Egyptian Foreign Minister briefs Arab League summit on Suez Canal revenue protection measures. Israeli Prime Minister receives daily briefings on Black Sea Jewish repatriation protocols facilitating 50,000 annual Odessa departures.
India schedules Foreign Secretary consultations January 30 prior to reconstruction consortium participation. Brazil coordinates G20 development ministers endorsing $20 billion IMF special drawing rights allocation.
International Financial Institution Engagements
World Bank approves $15 billion Ukraine Recovery Resilience Trust Fund administered through Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank commits ¥500 billion low-interest credits financing 12 GW renewable capacity through 2032.
European Investment Bank underwrites €25 billion green bonds collateralised against future gas transit revenues. IMF Executive Board schedules February 10 review confirming $9 billion extended arrangement tranche.
UAE Development Bank guarantees $4 billion syndicated facility rolling over 2025 wheat import credits. Qatar National Bank provides $2.5 billion Sharia-compliant murabaha financing critical imports.
Saturday Schedule and Expected Developments
Afternoon sessions address frozen asset modalities and NATO interoperability waivers for post-conflict Ukrainian forces. Sunday morning plenary anticipates initialling five technical annexes covering POW exchanges, energy transit, port rehabilitation, mine clearance, and verification mechanisms.
Delegations expect final communique by 1800 GMT Sunday outlining six-month implementation roadmap. UAE foreign ministry spokesperson schedules 2000 GMT press briefing detailing timelines.
As of January 24 morning recess, participants confirm constructive progress across working groups. Trilateral coordination cell maintains continuous operations facilitating delegation logistics at Abu Dhabi International Airport VIP terminal.