Zelenskyy says trilateral talks concluded constructively, more possible next week

Key Highlights

• The Ukrainian leader said there was “an understanding of the need for American monitoring and control of the process of ending the war and ensuring real security.” US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner participated alongside Ukrainian officials, including chief negotiator Rustem Umerov and military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov.
• Russia sent military intelligence and army representatives, according to Zelenskyy.
• The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Ministry earlier said the talks are part of efforts “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.” While Zelenskyy said in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday that a potential peace deal was “nearly ready,” certain sensitive sticking points – most notably those related to territorial issues – remain unresolved.
• Just hours before the three-way talks began on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a Ukraine settlement with Witkoff and Kushner during marathon overnight talks.
• The Kremlin insists that to reach a peace deal, Kyiv must withdraw its troops from the areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed but has not fully captured.