Zelensky proposes UAE, Switzerland, and Turkey for trilateral talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on September 8 that the next trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia could be hosted in the UAE, Switzerland, Turkey, or any other country willing to play host. The proposed agenda reads like a triage list for a country fighting a grinding war: stop attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, secure grain export corridors, and accelerate prisoner-of-war exchanges. Zelensky also made clear that Europe should have a seat at every future negotiating table. Building on Abu Dhabi and Geneva The first trilateral meeting took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24, 2026, followed by a second round in Geneva in February 2026. Both sessions were held on neutral ground, a deliberate choice designed to lower the temperature enough for substantive conversation. Zelensky’s announcement came two days after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Kyiv on September 6. That visit coincided with signals of possible renewed Russian openness to dialogue, though the Kremlin has not publicly confirmed its participation in a third round. The agenda: energy, grain, and prisoners Energy infrastructure sits at the top of Ukrai...