Delayed, Russia-Ukraine-US Trilateral Talks Resume This Week

Dmitry Peskov. (Source: Kremlin)

JAKARTA - Russia confirmed that a new round of trilateral talks with Ukraine and the United States to end the four-year war will begin on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) after a delay last weekend.

Moscow blamed scheduling problems for the delay, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said negotiations would take place in the UAE capital on Wednesday and Thursday.

"It was originally planned for last Sunday. But additional coordination of the third party's schedule is needed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, launching Daily Sabah (2/2).

"Now, on Wednesday-Thursday, the second round will take place. It will be held in Abu Dhabi. We can confirm that," he added.

The talks come less than two weeks before the fourth anniversary of Moscow launching its full-scale offensive against Ukraine.

The talks are expected to focus on the crucial issue of territory, with both sides so far showing no sign of a breakthrough.

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that a new Russia-US-Ukraine meeting would take place in Abu Dhabi on February 4-5, quoted by Anadolu.

In a Telegram statement, President Zelensky noted that the information came from Ukraine's negotiating team, which is scheduled to hold talks with the Russian team on Sunday.

"Our negotiating team has just given a report. The date for the next trilateral meeting has been set: February 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi. Ukraine is ready for substantive talks, and we are interested in results that bring us closer to a real and dignified settlement of the war (Moscow-Kyiv). Thank you to everyone who helped!" he said.

The United States is seeking to end the war between the two neighboring countries, which has killed tens of thousands of people, forced millions to flee their homes, and destroyed most of eastern and southern Ukraine.