• Trilateral talks involving the US, Russia, and Ukraine begin in Abu Dhabi.
• Discussions focus on unresolved territorial issues, particularly regarding eastern Ukraine.
• Ukraine President Zelensky expresses cautious optimism following meetings with US officials.
• Europe was notably excluded from these key negotiations.
• High stakes accompany the talks, but expectations for immediate progress are limited.

Delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are set to hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, marking the first such meeting since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This diplomatic engagement, scheduled for January 23, aims to address key issues but will occur without European participation, raising questions about its comprehensiveness and potential impact, according to ABC News and Le Monde.

U.S. officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have emphasized that the war must end, with Donald Trump suggesting that both sides would be "stupid" if they could not reach an agreement. However, unresolved issues, particularly regarding control of the eastern Donbas region, continue to pose significant challenges, as highlighted by Zelensky's statements prior to the talks, according to BBC and Le Monde.

During the talks, both Ukraine and the U.S. hope to establish security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. However, President Zelensky remains cautious, indicating that despite a "preliminary agreement" on U.S. support, the territorial conflicts are not yet settled. He described the upcoming discussions as a "step" forward but refrained from predicting a positive outcome, showing an understanding of the complexities at play, according to ABC News and BBC.

The stakes for this round of negotiations are high, with the backdrop of a brutal winter impacting Ukrainian civilians as Russian forces continue their attacks on critical infrastructure. Amid these discussions, there remains a significant mistrust in Russia's intentions, with Zelensky asserting that it is unclear whether Putin genuinely seeks a resolution, while the Kremlin insists on territorial concessions in Donbas, a demand Ukraine firmly rejects according to ABC News and BBC.