A planned meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 1 may be postponed due to developments with Iran, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv Thursday evening, Zelensky said that the new Russian delegation expected in Abu Dhabi is of a significantly higher level than before – which Kyiv sees as a sign of a more serious upcoming discussion on key issues.
However, the next round, initially scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 1, could be delayed, and the new date remains unclear.
“We agreed that the meeting will be in Abu Dhabi. It is very important for us that everyone we agreed on is present, because all sides are waiting for feedback. But the date or place may change,” Zelensky said. “In our view, something is happening around the situation between America and Iran, and this could affect the timing.”
Zelensky said that despite ongoing discussions, any real progress ultimately depends on Russian President Vladimir Putin, given how decision-making works in Russia.
According to him, Russian representatives responded to some points raised by the Ukrainian and US delegations and listened to arguments on others.
He said that this time the talks focused on practical matters rather than “history lectures.”
“There was a shift from fantastic historical references to real steps and discussions on ending the war,” Zelensky said, adding that Kyiv is now waiting for feedback from both Moscow and Washington.
Earlier, Zelensky described the two days of closed-door talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US in Abu Dhabi as “constructive,” even as Kyiv accuses Moscow of undercutting diplomacy with its fresh deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Friday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24, marked the first direct Ukraine-Russia contacts under a US-backed peace plan, with both sides outlining what they see as acceptable terms to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II.
Zelensky said the discussions focused on “possible parameters for ending the war,” and that all sides agreed on the need for US oversight to ensure credible security arrangements.
He added that delegations would report back to their capitals and coordinate next steps with national leaders. A third round of trilateral talks was expected to continue in the United Arab Emirates’ capital this week.
However, as negotiators met for a second day on Jan. 24, Ukraine accused Russia of sabotaging the peace effort by launching one of its heaviest attacks in recent months.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Putin had ordered a large-scale missile strike while the delegations were meeting, saying the missiles “hit not only our people, but also the negotiation table.”
The strikes come amid Kyiv’s most severe winter energy crisis since the full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago, with recurring outages and shortages caused by repeated attacks on the power grid.
Ahead of the talks, Moscow reiterated that control over Ukraine’s Donbas – the Donetsk and Luhansk regions – is a prerequisite for any peace process. After the first round, Russian state media said delegations discussed possible buffer zones and control mechanisms.
The meetings are the latest in a series of peace efforts launched since 2022, following earlier initiatives such as the Minsk agreements. While some talks have yielded limited results, including prisoner exchanges and the return of abducted children, none have led to a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Iran are rising, with increasingly direct threats and military signaling on both sides.
Diplomats say that a US-Iran crisis could distract from Ukraine and be exploited by Russia or China.
US President Donald Trump warned of military action “far worse” than last summer’s strikes if Tehran does not return to negotiations on a broad nuclear deal.
Iran responded that it would retaliate “like never before” if provoked, while saying it is open in principle to talks under mutual respect.
The sense of escalation deepened after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate the US must be ready to act, including preemptively, to protect its forces and allies.
The standoff comes as Iran faces severe internal strain, with economic turmoil and unrest weakening the regime.
Some analysts argue this gives Washington a rare opportunity to increase pressure and support opposition movements, while others warn that military action could backfire by strengthening hardliners, risking wider regional escalation, or even triggering internal conflict.