The meeting is intended to move away from territorial claims and address broader questions of European security, the newspaper reported. The parties will try to establish whether Moscow will soften its demands on ending the war in exchange for some role in shaping a post-war security system in Europe. Some of the newspaper's interlocutors view this as a concession to Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had also said that collective security issues would be discussed at the meeting.
The Russian delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, and the Ukrainian delegation by Rustem Umerov, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service. Both already headed their delegations at the talks in Istanbul in May last year, where humanitarian issues and a prisoner exchange were discussed. The US delegation is represented by presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law.
Kushner wrote on X that ahead of the trilateral meeting he would hold consultations with partners from Ukraine, the EU, NATO, Germany, France, the UK and Italy. According to him, the talks in Abu Dhabi could mark the start of a broader multilateral settlement process. Kushner noted that a comprehensive settlement would require direct engagement between Russia and European partners on security issues.
Radio Liberty reported on the possible participation of representatives of the European Commission, the European Council, France, Germany and the UK. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in advance that Europeans would not be allowed to the negotiating table. The French foreign minister, in turn, said his country and the EU would be represented at the meeting.
Yuri Ushakov, Russian presidential aide for international affairs, who oversees the work of the Russian delegation, has said there is no point counting on a quick peace treaty. Ahead of the meeting, Volodymyr Zelensky recalled that territorial issues can only be discussed by the leaders of the countries.
Analysts surveyed by the NYT believe there will be no breakthrough at least until spring, when Russia will assess the results of its winter campaign. Former US ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor stressed that Russia shows no signs of interest in a ceasefire. Other interlocutors of the newspaper expect that local truces, as in the case of Oleshky, could be announced following the meeting.
Russian bloggers, commenting on the composition of the delegation, note that in Istanbul Medinsky delivered historical lectures instead of discussing the agenda. Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia said that at those talks Medinsky did not get down to discussing the issues of the day right away.