By Image courtesy by President Zelenskyy
Constructive Chaos: Inside the First Ukraine-Russia-US Trilateral Summit in the UAE
The Negotiating Table: Who Was There?
The UAE-hosted talks brought together a powerful group of representatives:
- For the US: Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
- For Ukraine: National Security Secretary Rustem Umerov and Intel Chief Kyrylo Budanov.
- For Russia: GRU Director Gen. Igor Kostyukov.
The presence of high-ranking military and intelligence officials—rather than just career diplomats—suggests the talks are focused on immediate, “on-the-ground” cessation of hostilities rather than just long-term political theory.
“100% Ready”: The Security Guarantee Document
In a surprise post-summit briefing from Lithuania, President Zelenskyy announced that a document outlining US security guarantees for Ukraine is “100% ready.” This document is expected to provide Ukraine with long-term defense assurances from Washington, a move Kyiv sees as essential before any territory-related compromises can even be discussed.
The Sticking Points: Donbas and Energy
Despite the positive rhetoric from the UAE, two massive obstacles remain:
- Territory: Moscow insists on the full withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas. Kyiv maintains its territorial integrity is non-negotiable but hints at “alternative arrangements” like demilitarized zones.
- The “Energy Truce”: A proposed deal where Russia stops hitting Ukrainian power plants in exchange for Ukraine halting strikes on Russian oil refineries.
What’s Next?
The delegations have returned to their respective capitals to brief President Trump, President Putin, and President Zelenskyy. The world’s eyes now turn to February 1, when the second round of trilateral talks is set to resume in Abu Dhabi.
