US proposes trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Russia in UAE, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on September 25, 2026, that the United States has proposed a technical-level trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Russia in the United Arab Emirates to discuss ending the war. The proposal follows meetings between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump in New York. While the Kremlin indicated such a meeting could happen soon, major territorial disagreements remain. Meanwhile, the U.S. has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in Miami this December, though Moscow has not yet confirmed his attendance.

Proposals and scheduling for the trilateral meeting

• ▪The United States has proposed holding a technical-level trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Russia to discuss efforts to end the conflict.
• ▪The Kremlin stated on September 25, 2026, that a trilateral meeting involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States could take place in the near future.
• ▪Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump discussed the possibility of a trilateral meeting during a phone call earlier in September 2026.
• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on September 25, 2026, that Ukraine is awaiting a proposal from the United States regarding the date of the proposed trilateral meeting with Russia in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates as a negotiation venue

• ▪Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov previously stated that Russia views Abu Dhabi as a priority venue for a possible resumption of negotiations with the United States and Ukraine
• ▪The United States suggested the United Arab Emirates as a possible location for the proposed technical-level trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Russia
• ▪Previous rounds of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States were held in the United Arab Emirates in January and February 2026, and in Switzerland in February 2026, but did not resolve core territorial issues

Zelensky's discussions with Donald Trump

• ▪Following talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, Ukrainian negotiators met with their U.S. counterparts to discuss specific details of the U.S.-proposed trilateral meeting with Russia in the United Arab Emirates
• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York during the week of September 21, 2026, to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine
• ▪Volodymyr Zelensky stated on September 25, 2026, that he asked Donald Trump to encourage Chinese President Xi Jinping to use Beijing's influence with Moscow to help end Russia's war in Ukraine

U.S. envoys' diplomatic mission

• ▪U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 5, 2026, to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine, before traveling to Kyiv
• ▪National security advisers from Britain, France, and Germany joined part of discussions in Kyiv between Ukrainian officials and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner

Ceasefire and de-escalation proposals

• ▪Recent U.S. proposals to end Russia's war against Ukraine included a possible halt to attacks on energy infrastructure and reopening a Black Sea grain corridor
• ▪Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine is discussing several ceasefire avenues, including an energy ceasefire, a maritime ceasefire, and the U.S.-proposed trilateral negotiation format.

Proposed Putin attendance at the G20 summit

• ▪The Kremlin previously rejected a Putin-Zelensky meeting at the G20 summit in Miami, with Dmitry Peskov stating the two leaders could only meet in Moscow.
• ▪Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on September 25, 2026, that it is too early to discuss Vladimir Putin traveling to Miami, as Moscow has not yet made a decision.
• ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on September 24, 2026, that the United States invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December 2026.

Debatable claims

• ▪The United Arab Emirates is an appropriate neutral venue for Ukraine-Russia peace talks
• ▪A trilateral US-Ukraine-Russia format is the most effective framework for peace negotiations
• ▪The US invitation to Vladimir Putin for the G20 summit in Miami is justified