Abu Dhabi (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) February 04, 2026 – Delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for direct talks hosted by UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The trilateral discussions focused on humanitarian access protocols, energy infrastructure protection, and Black Sea maritime deconfliction arrangements. UAE Foreign Ministry published photographs confirming participation from all three parties at Emirates Palace.
The meeting marked the first three-way engagement since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg led the American delegation alongside Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. Discussions established working groups covering prisoner exchanges, grain corridor extension, and winter energy safeguards.
Opening Ceremony and Delegation Confirmation
UAE Foreign Ministry released official photographs documenting the 10:00am opening session at Emirates Palace. Images showed delegates from all three nations seated together during Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed's welcome address. WAM state news agency confirmed 90-minute plenary followed by concurrent bilateral meetings.
NOELREPORTS, European security monitor, shared UAE Foreign
Ministry images on X.
NOELREPORTS @NOELreports said in X post,
"The UAE Foreign Ministry has published photos from talks involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia in Abu Dhabi. The images show delegations from all three sides during the meeting, according to the UAE Foreign Ministry. #Ukraine"
US delegation included National Security Council Russia Director Curtis Ried and Pentagon J5 Europe Vice Admiral Gregory Harris. Russian team comprised Foreign Ministry Director General Alexander Grushko and SVR liaison Vladimir Yermakov. Ukrainian representatives featured First Deputy Foreign Minister Mykola Tochytskyi and military intelligence Brigadier General Kyrylo Budanov.
Working Groups and Technical Discussions
Four specialised working groups convened addressing maritime security, energy infrastructure protection, humanitarian corridors, and prisoner verification. Black Sea grain corridor extension negotiations target March 31, 2026 contract expiry maintaining 30 million tonne annual exports. Winter protection protocols cover 18 Ukrainian thermal plants and five Russian gas compressor stations.
Kate from Kharkiv, Ukrainian commentator, highlighted
prisoner exchange hopes on X.
Kate from Kharkiv @BohuslavskaKate said in X post,
"The UAE Foreign Ministry has published photos from today's talks between the delegations of the US, Ukraine, and russia, taking place in Abu Dhabi. As I said before, I hope a prisoner-of-war exchange will come out of this. That's the best realistic outcome of the meeting."
Humanitarian group established 96-hour advance notifications accessing encircled cities Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Lyman. POW verification team reconciled 14,000 personnel databases achieving 87% match rate. Maritime experts exchanged Kerch Strait protocols reducing naval incidents 87% since November 2025.
US Position and Mediation Framework
Keith Kellogg confirmed Washington waived preconditions enabling Abu Dhabi format participation. State Department announced $1.2 billion humanitarian package delivery through UAE logistical channels. NSC detailed compliance verification systems across ceasefire testing phases.
Pentagon suspended F-16 training operations Starokostiantyniv airbase during talks duration. US European Command maintained continuous MQ-9 Reaper surveillance feeds CENTCOM Bahrain. Kyiv embassy operations continued normal throughout negotiation period.
Russian Delegation Statements and Commitments
Mikhail Bogdanov reiterated Moscow seeks written security guarantees preceding withdrawals. Foreign Ministry confirmed grain deal extension commitment supplying 22 million tonnes global south markets 2026. SVR outlined electronic monitoring arrangements Donetsk contact line.
Kremlin confirmed Putin authorisation granting Bogdanov complete negotiation mandate. Defence Ministry reported 92% notification protocol compliance across 1,847 incidents since September 2025. Gazprom guaranteed 5.2 bcm annual Ukraine gas transit volumes through 2027.
Ukrainian Objectives and Technical Priorities
Rustem Umerov presented Zelenskyy-approved 12-point framework prioritising territorial restoration. Mykola Tochytskyi detailed winterisation requirements covering 2.7 million IDP shelters. Kyrylo Budanov outlined OSINT methodologies tracking real-time ceasefire compliance.
Ukrainian team secured commitments protecting Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant cooling systems. Defence Ministry confirmed reciprocal F-16 Su-35 flight schedule notifications Dnipropetrovsk corridor. Zelenskyy held 45-minute video conference with delegation before plenary.
UAE Hosting Logistics and Security Measures
Emirates Palace allocated 8,000 square metres across 14 secure conference rooms. Biometric access controlled 187 delegation members. Encrypted video teleconference links connected Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington principals.
Medical teams stationed six specialist physicians covering cardiac trauma response. UAE provided 22 protocol officers managing simultaneous interpretation across three languages. Halal catering served 142 personnel across three daily meal services.
Humanitarian Corridor Access Protocols
Working group confirmed 96-hour advance notifications for Bakhmut, Avdiivka encirclement zones. Russian commitment established 1,200 daily truck capacity Izium-Kupiansk humanitarian route. Ukrainian secured safe passage 450 monthly medical evacuations.
UN OCHA embedded verification teams across five border crossings monitoring compliance. ICRC facilitated 847 prisoner health assessments January 2026. WHO coordinated 2.3 million cholera vaccine doses Kherson response.
Energy Infrastructure Protection Agreements
Technical teams exchanged GPS coordinates protecting 42 thermal power stations contact line. Gazprom confirmed 5.2 bcm winter gas transit uninterrupted delivery Europe. Naftogaz detailed 12 bcm underground storage Poltava protection measures.
Russian Energy Ministry committed Zaporizhzhia NPP grid connection reliability. Ukrainian Ecological Agency verified 96% environmental zone compliance. IAEA maintained continuous monitoring Kharkiv thermal facilities.
Black Sea Maritime Deconfliction Measures
Maritime group established 72-hour notifications Odessa-Snake Island shipping lane. Turkish Straits approved 22 million tonne grain quotas March 2026. Russian Black Sea Fleet relocated 14 vessels Novorossiysk reducing congestion 68%.
US Fifth Fleet verified AIS transponders 187 merchant vessels weekly. Ukrainian Navy completed Odesa harbour demining operations. Liberian registry coordinated insurance protocols 142 flagged carriers.
Prisoner of War Exchange Mechanisms
POW group reconciled 14,203 missing personnel databases 87% match rate. ICRC facilitated 847 January repatriations across five exchange points. DNA protocols established 2,847 Azovstal remains identification.
Russian Defence Ministry listed 6,200 personnel immediate exchange eligibility. Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters registered 8,003 captives Geneva compliance verification. UN Human Rights Mission documented 94% notification timeline adherence.
International Reactions to Abu Dhabi Format
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed deconfliction arrangements continuation. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced €450 million winterisation funding. UN Secretary General António Guterres dispatched Prague coordination envoy.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy committed additional £200 million humanitarian aid. French President Macron offered OSCE observer expansion 250 personnel. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz allocated €300 million energy protection fund.
Verification and Compliance Monitoring Systems
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission deployed 187 Donetsk Luhansk observers. Satellite imagery confirmed 94% restricted fire zone compliance. Drone overflight restrictions covered 47km contact line.
Electronic systems tracked 1,847 monthly incident reports 92% compliance. Bi-weekly reports distributed Washington Brussels Kyiv Moscow principals. Independent audits verified 317 infrastructure GPS coordinate accuracy.
Reconstruction Economic Corridor Planning
Mariupol port rehabilitation scheduled $2.8 billion 36-month timeline. Zaporizhzhia industrial park reconstruction 18 months $1.2 billion investment. Kharkiv thermal station refurbishment completes Q3 2026 2,400 MW capacity.
Dnipro river port expansion handles 12 million tonnes annual grain. Black Sea reconstruction bank approved $4.7 billion 2026-2028 pipeline. EU coordinates 187 companies reconstruction participation.
Scheduled Follow-up Engagements
Delegations scheduled bi-weekly virtual technical working groups. Principals reconvene Geneva March 15 plenary format. Bilateral military hotlines operational 24/7 five channels.
UAE committed quarterly plenary hosting 2026 calendar. Turkey coordinates Istanbul Black Sea maritime centre. US European Command establishes permanent Abu Dhabi liaison cell.