US proposes trilateral meeting with Ukraine, Russia in UAE, Zelenskiy says

The United States has proposed holding a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Russia in the United Arab Emirates, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday. The announcement marks a notable development in efforts to address the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has now lasted four and a half years. Zelenskiy disclosed the proposal during a briefing with journalists conducted via WhatsApp, saying Washington had suggested holding talks at a technical level in a three-way format.

According to Zelenskiy, the American side proposed the format but has not yet specified a date. He said Kyiv is waiting for a concrete proposal from Washington regarding timing, while the venue under discussion is the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates have previously served as a neutral setting for contacts between Russia and the West, including for prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow, which may explain why the country was put forward as a possible host for these talks.

The fact that the meeting would take place at a technical level suggests it would involve officials or delegations rather than the heads of state themselves, at least in this initial stage. This detail leaves open the question of who exactly would represent each side and what specific agenda items would be discussed. None of the available reports specify further details on participants or subject matter.

On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov offered a more cautious assessment. He said there were no specific details yet regarding the organization of a potential trilateral meeting between Russia, the United States and Ukraine. Peskov noted, however, that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart had already discussed the matter during a phone call on September 8, indicating that the idea of such a meeting has been under consideration for several weeks rather than emerging suddenly.

Reports differ somewhat in how far along the planning appears to be. Zelenskiy's account suggests that a concrete proposal on format and location already exists, with only a date still outstanding. The Kremlin's statement, by contrast, emphasizes that specifics are still lacking. This difference in emphasis may reflect differing stages of internal deliberation in Washington, Kyiv and Moscow, or simply different communication approaches by each government.

Coverage citing Reuters reporting has focused on the choice of the United Arab Emirates as the proposed venue. The country has built a reputation in recent years as a diplomatic go-between in matters related to the war, hosting or facilitating various exchanges between the warring parties. This track record likely factored into the American suggestion to use the UAE as a possible location for the new round of talks.

Several questions remain unresolved based on the information available so far. It is not clear when the meeting might take place, who would represent each government, or what precise outcomes the parties are hoping to achieve. It also remains uncertain whether this would be a one-time meeting or the start of a longer negotiating process. Zelenskiy's remarks indicate that Kyiv is still awaiting further details from Washington before any next steps can be confirmed.

The proposal comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement by the United States concerning the war, following the September 8 phone call between the American and Russian presidents referenced by the Kremlin. It is not indicated in the available reports whether or how Ukraine's European partners might be involved in or informed about this specific initiative.

Whether the proposed trilateral meeting ultimately takes place will depend on whether Washington, Kyiv and Moscow can agree on a date, venue logistics and the composition of their respective delegations. For now, the initiative remains at the proposal stage, with the Kremlin explicitly stating that organizational details have yet to be worked out, even as Ukrainian officials describe the American offer as a step that could move talks forward.