The Kremlin said on Monday, January 26th that recent U.S.-brokered talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the United Arab Emirates were held in a “constructive spirit,” while cautioning that no immediate breakthroughs should be expected.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the two sides had begun initial contacts in a constructive manner but emphasized that significant work remains ahead. “It would be a mistake to expect any significant results from the initial contacts,” Peskov said, adding that the start of dialogue itself could be viewed positively.
The two-day meeting took place in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday and marked the first time in nearly four years that negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv had faced each other directly. The talks focused on a proposal promoted by U.S. president Donald Trump aimed at ending the prolonged conflict.
According to a U.S. official, the trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are expected to resume in the UAE on February 1st.
Peskov noted that while the discussions were constructive, they were not marked by friendliness:
I wouldn’t say there was any friendliness there, it’s hardly possible at this stage… But if you’re trying to achieve something through negotiations, you need to speak constructively.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also commented on the talks, stating earlier that a wide range of issues had been discussed and stressing the importance of maintaining a constructive dialogue.
