A planned round of peace negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, scheduled for March 5-6 in Abu Dhabi, is now in doubt due to ongoing military actions in the Middle East.
The meeting was set to take place in the UAE capital, but airspace over Abu Dhabi has been closed and explosions have been reported in the area. Sources from Russia have indicated that Istanbul is being considered as an alternative venue.
According to Bloomberg, both Russia and Ukraine are still hopeful that the US-led peace talks will proceed this week, despite the Trump administration’s continued military operations against Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that discussions could potentially occur in Turkey or Switzerland. He remarked, “Due to today’s military actions, we cannot confirm Abu Dhabi as the location, but the meeting has not been canceled. It is important to us, and we support this meeting. Both the meeting and its outcomes are significant, and the exchange is crucial.”
Ukraine has expressed its willingness to engage in negotiations at any of the proposed locations and is currently awaiting responses from its partners.
Since the beginning of 2026, Ukraine has conducted several rounds of talks with Russia. A primary issue that remains unresolved is the control of unoccupied territories in the Donbas region.
Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, while Ukraine proposes to freeze positions along the front line. The United States is advocating for the establishment of a free economic zone in these territories.
The peace negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia, originally set for Abu Dhabi, face uncertainty due to military actions in the region. Alternative locations, including Istanbul and Switzerland, are being considered as discussions focus on unresolved territorial issues in the Donbas region.