US signals possible Zelenskyy–Putin meeting in the near future
Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo: RBC-Ukraine collage)
Representatives of the US believe that a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin could take place in the near future, according to Axios.
US officials told the outlet that the meeting in Abu Dhabi was an important step toward the next stage of negotiations.
“We are very close to a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy,” one American official said.
An official suggested that if the next trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi is more successful, it could lead to talks being held in Kyiv or Moscow - something that has not happened for many years.
"We think those meetings need to happen before a meeting between the leaders. We don't think we are far away from that. If we continue down the current path we will get to that place,” the US official added.
Talks in Abu Dhabi
Two days of talks between delegations from Ukraine, the US, and Russia on ending the war took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23–24.
According to a source cited by RBC-Ukraine, the first round served as an introductory session, while on Saturday, the parties met in an expanded format and then split into two subgroups: one political and one military.
The source said significant progress was made in discussions within the military track, while decisions on territorial issues have yet to be reached.
“However, the military subgroup managed to make progress. The discussions focused on whether a disengagement of forces is necessary, how a ceasefire would be monitored, how a cessation of hostilities would be implemented, the creation of a center for monitoring and coordinating ceasefire issues, and which countries could be represented there,” the source specified.
The source added that the military subgroup agreed to prepare proposals from each side on further steps toward a ceasefire within a week, ahead of the next meeting.
According to Axios, the next round of trilateral talks involving the US, Ukraine, and Russia is scheduled for February 1. The meeting will once again take place in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.
