--- title: "Ushakov: Ukraine talks could resume in trilateral format, Abu Dhabi may host" description: "Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that negotiations on Ukraine could resume in a trilateral format with US participation, and that Abu Dhabi could again serve as the venue for meetings." date: 2026-09-09T12:56:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ushakov-trilateral-ukraine-talks-abu-dabi tags: [ukraine-war, russia-usa-talks, abu-dhabi, ushakov, peace-negotiations] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ushakov: Ukraine talks could resume in trilateral format, Abu Dhabi may host ![Sergey Ushakov against the Russian flag: statement on possible resumption of Ukraine talks in trilateral format in Abu Dhabi](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/09/ushakov-trehstoronnie-peregovory-abu-dabi/ushakov-trehstoronnie-peregovory-abu-dabi-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Ushakov acknowledged the possibility of resuming the Ukraine negotiation process in a trilateral format with US participation - Abu Dhabi has again been named as a possible venue for new meetings - The Kremlin reiterated its demand for Washington to completely cease military support for Ukraine - Rubio cautiously assessed the chances of talks, while Witkoff spoke of 'significant progress' and an agreed schedule of meetings The Kremlin has acknowledged the possibility of resuming the negotiation process on settling the conflict in Ukraine in an expanded, trilateral format involving Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington. This was stated by Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, whose words are quoted by RBC-Ukraine citing the 'Vesti' TV channel. According to him, certain contacts are being maintained between the parties, and the possibility of returning to full trilateral interaction is already being discussed with American counterparts. ### Trilateral format returns to the agenda 'There are some contacts, but now the talk is of resuming the negotiation process with Ukraine that existed before. And we also discussed this with our American counterparts, so perhaps this process will resume in a trilateral format,' Ushakov stated. Thus, Moscow has directly indicated that the previous bilateral or limited formats of dialogue may give way to a broader platform, where the US will act not merely as a mediator but as a full party to the interaction. ### Abu Dhabi named as possible venue for meetings In response to a question about where new rounds could be held, Ushakov referred to prior experience: 'Our representatives met, for example, in Abu Dhabi, and it is quite possible to continue meeting there as well.' This means that the neutral territory of the UAE, where contacts have already been held previously, is being considered by the Kremlin as a workable option for continuing the dialogue, which removes some of the logistical and political complexities associated with choosing a location. ### The Kremlin's conditions and Washington's cautious reaction At the same time, in response to a question about how exactly the US could help facilitate a settlement, Ushakov voiced Moscow's traditional demand: Washington should completely cease providing military support to Ukraine. Against this backdrop, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assessed the chances of resuming negotiations cautiously — 'not optimistically, but not pessimistically either.' For his part, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, following his visits to Moscow and Kyiv, reported 'significant progress' in negotiations on ending the war and on coordinating a schedule for further meetings. ### Contradictory data The parties' statements show a divergence in assessing the pace and readiness for negotiations. On the one hand, US special envoy Steve Witkoff speaks of 'significant progress' and an already agreed schedule of meetings, which sounds like a signal of proximity to launching the process. On the other hand, Secretary of State Marco Rubio takes a restrained, 'not optimistic' position, while Ushakov uses the cautious wording 'perhaps this process will resume,' offering no guarantees. Moreover, the Kremlin's hard condition of a complete halt to US military aid to Ukraine may contradict Washington's readiness to take such a step, creating a discrepancy between the declared 'progress' and the actual conditions for starting trilateral talks. The totality of these statements indicates that the formal launch of the trilateral track remains under discussion, and the key variables remain the choice of venue (including Abu Dhabi), the US position on military support for Kyiv, and the parties' ability to synchronize their public assessments with their actual readiness for negotiations. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Trilateral talks with Ukraine and the US possible under Putin, venue named](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/putina-dopuskayut-tristoronni-peregovori-1788957903.html) - Подтверждает заявление Ушакова о возможном трехстороннем формате и упоминание Абу-Даби как площадки. - [Ushakov: trilateral Ukraine talks could continue in Abu Dhabi](https://moika78.ru/news/2026-09-09/1353235-ushakov-trehstoronnie-peregovory-po-ukraine-mogut-prodolzhitsya-v-abu-dabi/) - Совпадает по сути цитат Ушакова о контактах и возможном месте встреч. - [Kremlin names location where trilateral Ukraine talks could be held](https://newdaynews.ru/politics/880298.html) - Подтверждает назовение Абу-Даби в качестве возможной площадки. - [⚡️ Zelensky announces TALKS: LOUD STATEMENT. Trump SENT Putin. Here's what the US IS PREPARING](https://www.unian.net/multimedia/video/news/10587711-zelenskiy-obyavil-peregovory-gromkoe-zayavlenie-tramp-poslal-putina-vot-chto-gotovyat-ssha.html) - Связанный контекст по переговорам; использован лишь как дополнительный фон, ключевые факты взяты из основного текста. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: In what format, according to Ushakov, could the Ukraine negotiations resume? **A:** Ushakov stated that the process could resume in a trilateral format involving Ukraine, Russia, and the US, since this has been discussed with American counterparts. ### Q: Where, in the Kremlin's view, could new meetings take place? **A:** Ushakov pointed to Abu Dhabi, referring to prior experience of representatives meeting there, and stated that 'it is quite possible to continue meeting there as well.' ### Q: What condition did the Kremlin put forward regarding the role of the US? **A:** Ushakov voiced Moscow's traditional demand — for Washington to completely cease providing military support to Ukraine. ### Q: How do the US assess the prospects for resuming negotiations? **A:** Secretary of State Marco Rubio assessed the chances cautiously — 'not optimistically, but not pessimistically either,' while special envoy Steve Witkoff, after his visits to Moscow and Kyiv, reported 'significant progress' and an agreed schedule of meetings.