[ColonelCassad] Negotiations in Abu Dhabi. January 23, 2026.
1. Negotiations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine will take place in Abu Dhabi today. The Russian delegation is headed by Admiral Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. This is not the first time that the UAE has emerged as a negotiating platform – the main prisoner exchange negotiations were mediated by the UAE.
2. Negotiations are scheduled for January 23-24. Territorial issues and other matters will be discussed. It is possible that even if no progress is made, at least further exchanges of prisoners of war and detainees can be agreed upon.
3. The United States and Ukraine are proposing an "energy truce." Russia ceases attacks on Ukraine's energy sector (where there are problems), and in exchange, Ukraine ceases attacks on Russian energy sector and oil refineries. Attacks on tankers belonging to the "shadow fleet" are also to cease. The reasons for such proposals are clear: for the first time in the war, Russian military strikes on the energy sector have had a systemic, cumulative effect, leading to a prolonged systemic blackout in several regions of Ukraine, with the possibility of its institutionalization.
4. Following Putin's talks with Whitkoff and Kushner, Russia reiterated that the territorial issue is paramount, and if Donbas is not handed over to it, it will continue to pursue this goal militarily. Let me remind you that the full incorporation of the DPR and LPR territories within their 2014 borders is the overall goal of the Central Military District, which has now been approximately 83-84% achieved militarily. Both Moscow and Washington have already openly stated that if Ukraine refuses to withdraw from Donbas, it will lose even more territory.
5. The US is already proposing a number of projects for post-war cooperation to Russia, but they are unlikely to be implemented until the war in Ukraine ends. Europe, of course, is interested in disrupting the negotiations by any means necessary and prolonging the war as long as possible. Europe does not want to register its defeat in the war in Ukraine.
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The White House called the first day of talks in Abu Dhabi productive.
The trilateral meeting between representatives of Russia, the United States, and Ukraine in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi was productive. A White House spokesperson told the Ukrainian publication "Obshchestvennoye" on January 23, speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to the official, the delegations agreed to continue discussions on settling the Ukrainian conflict on Saturday, January 24.
Earlier, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced the start of talks between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine. He said the talks would last two days. He also expressed hope that the meeting would bring a resolution to the conflict closer.
On January 23, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian delegation at the talks in the UAE had received instructions from President Vladimir Putin. Peskov noted that the core of the Russian delegation would be representatives of the Ministry of Defense, but did not disclose its composition. The group was led by Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Furthermore, the Russian leader's press secretary noted that the Russian president's special representative and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, will hold talks with the US president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, on January 23 and 24. Their meeting will focus on economic issues.
The United States delegation at the talks in Abu Dhabi included Witkoff, US President's son-in-law Jared Kushner, White House official Josh Gruenbaum, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkevich.