Kremlin: Putin’s talks with Trump envoys were constructive and frank

Yuri Ushakov, Russian President’s Assistant for Foreign Policy, announced the holding of the first meeting of the trilateral working group on security issues with the participation of representatives of Russia, the United States, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.

According to the Kremlin, the meeting will begin on Friday (January 23, 2026) in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The Russian delegation has received specific instructions from Vladimir Putin, and the security section will include representatives from the Russian Defense Ministry’s command, led by the head of military intelligence.

Ushakov stressed that Putin’s talks last night with US special envoy Jared Kushner and another US official were “constructive, very frank and useful”. The meeting emphasized that without resolving the issue, it will not be possible to reach a long-term agreement on the ground.

The American side presented their impressions and assessments of recent contacts in Davos, including Trump’s meeting with Zelensky.

It was also agreed that the head of the Russian bilateral economic affairs group and the US envoy in Abu Dhabi would meet separately to discuss economic issues.

Ushakov added: “The Russian delegation has left for Abu Dhabi and the focus of the meeting is on receiving information on the results of US contacts with Kiev and Europe.”

Russia announced that it will continue to pursue the objectives of its special military operation in Ukraine in stages until a political and diplomatic solution is reached.

These developments are part of the Trump administration’s increasing efforts to mediate and end the Ukraine war, and are the first direct trilateral meeting between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine since the war began.