Ukraine, US and Russia to hold first trilateral talks in UAE on January 23-24, says Zelensky

A technical-level trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia is scheduled to take place on January 23 and 24 in the United Arab Emirates, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday.

Speaking during a panel discussion after his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Zelensky said the meeting would mark the first time Ukraine, Russia and the US have engaged in a trilateral format since the war began.

He expressed cautious optimism that the talks could help move towards ending the conflict.

"Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow we will have a trilateral meeting, it's better than not having any dialogue," Zelensky said.

Zelensky’s remarks came shortly after an hour-long meeting with Donald Trump, who described their discussion as “good”.

The Ukrainian leader said his team met the US delegation on Thursday, following which American officials were expected to travel to Russia.

"Our guys are meeting with the Americans today, then the Americans are meeting with the Russians tomorrow, tonight when, I don't know, maybe Putin is sleeping, you said no one knows what's in his head," Zelensky said.

While confirming the sequence of engagements, Zelensky did not clarify whether Ukrainian and Russian representatives would negotiate directly or remain separated through intermediaries.

Zelensky Calls for Compromise From Russia

Zelensky underlined that any progress would require flexibility from all sides, not just Ukraine.

The former comedian turned politician said the burden of compromise should not rest solely on Kyiv.

"You know, everyone should be ready, not just Ukraine, and this is important for us. So we'll see what the results will be," he said.

However, he stopped short of outlining the agenda, format, or specific objectives of the upcoming talks, leaving questions about their scope and potential outcomes unanswered.

While the announcement signals a rare diplomatic opening after nearly three years of war, expectations remain tempered. The absence of details on direct engagement and Russia’s position has fuelled uncertainty over whether the meetings will lead to substantive negotiations or remain exploratory.

Still, the very fact that Ukraine, the US and Russia are engaging in a trilateral framework is being viewed as a notable development, even if the path to peace remains unclear.