Russia-US talks advance, but Kremlin says territory is crucial

Russia ​said it will hold security talks with the US and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on Friday but warned after a late-night meeting between President Vladimir Putin and three US envoys that a durable peace would not be possible unless territorial issues were resolved.

The discussions, which lasted around four hours, focused on security, territorial issues, and possible steps toward ending the Ukraine conflict. According to the Kremlin, Russia will be represented in upcoming three-way security talks by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, while investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev will separately hold economic discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff. However, Russian officials made it clear that significant disagreements remain.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that resolving territorial issues is essential for any long-term peace. Officials said Moscow remains interested in a diplomatic solution, yet at the same time confirmed that Russia will continue pursuing its military objectives until an agreement is reached. They added that Russian forces currently hold the strategic initiative on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face severe hardship as heavy Russian missile and drone attacks target energy infrastructure. As a result, long power outages and heating shortages have affected large numbers of people during one of the coldest winters of the war. Ukrainian authorities say these attacks show that Moscow lacks genuine interest in peace, a claim Russia strongly denies.

On the US side, the talks included Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and newly appointed adviser Josh Gruenbaum. The meetings form part of a wider push by President Donald Trump to bring the nearly four-year conflict to an end. Trump has publicly urged both sides to reach a deal, warning that failure to do so would be a serious mistake.