Zelenskyy seeks Russia's answers in UAE-hosted Ukraine talks

2026-01-25 - 21:05

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined that his country's delegation possesses a defined framework for negotiations at the ongoing trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates, calling for Russia to clarify its position on ending the conflict. Awaiting Concrete Responses from Moscow In a recent address, Zelenskyy emphasized that while discussions on the parameters for concluding the war are underway, the onus is now on Moscow. "Now they should have at least some of the answers from Russia, the main thing is that Russia is ready to end this war," he stated. The president cautioned that it remains "too early to draw conclusions" pending further dialogue in this rare format involving Ukrainian, American, and Russian representatives. Strengthening the Negotiating Team Zelenskyy confirmed an expansion of the Ukrainian negotiating team. The current delegation, led by National Security and Defense Council chief Rustem Umerov and intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov, will be joined by Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov and Deputy Head of Defense Intelligence Vadym Skibitsky. This move signals the integration of high-level military perspective into the diplomatic process. Parallel Discussions on Defense Aid Alongside the diplomatic track in the UAE, Zelenskyy noted continued efforts to bolster Ukraine's defensive capabilities. He referenced a discussion with US President Donald Trump regarding the provision of PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defense systems, describing it as a "positive signal" for Ukraine's security amid the negotiations.