Iran hit Abu Dhabi but not the peace talks — Kyiv says the next Ukraine-Russia-US round is still days away

The next round of US-pushed trilateral Ukraine-Russia-US peace talks remains on track despite the US-Iran war that has turned the planned venue — Abu Dhabi — into an active conflict zone. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Italy's Corriere della Sera that the trilateral meeting could take place on 5 or 6 March, likely in Europe instead of the UAE, and expressed hope for new prisoner exchanges. The interview also laid bare the deadlock over the Donbas, with Zelenskyy rejecting Russia's demand for a full Ukrainian withdrawal.

Abu Dhabi out, Europe preferred

"Nobody has postponed the next trilateral with the Americans, not even after the attack on Iran, so I think it can take place on 5 or 6 March as planned," Zelenskyy said. "Maybe it won't be in Abu Dhabi. I'd prefer Geneva, or at least Europe, because the war is on our continent."

He added that if Russia wants a neutral location, Austria, the Vatican, or Türkiye would work. Zelenskyy also said he hopes for new prisoner exchanges — which have been the only actual results of the previous rounds.

The previous trilateral rounds took place in Abu Dhabi in January and early February, followed by a third round in Geneva on 17-18 February. On 26 February, Zelenskyy named Abu Dhabi as the likely next venue — two days before Iran's strikes made that impossible. 

"I will never leave the Donbas"

Moscow wants Ukraine to cede the entire Donbas — a loosely defined historic region that has never existed as a separate official entity spanning modern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in eastern Ukraine with a combined area of roughly 53,200 km².

Zelenskyy said the negotiations have narrowed to 5,800 km² of the Donbas. He did not specify what exactly this figure refers to — apparently, it is the area of the portion still under Ukrainian control, roughly 22% of Donetsk Oblast. He said he accepted the diplomatic path and the US proposal to freeze the line of fire. 

"Many in Ukraine disagreed with this compromise, but I followed Donald Trump to at least reach an end to the fighting," he said.

Russia rejected the freeze and demands Ukraine's complete withdrawal from the Donbas, according to Zelenskyy. The US then proposed demilitarized zones and free economic areas on both sides of the front. Zelenskyy said he agreed — on condition that it applies to both sides. Russia insists the zones should only be on Ukraine's side. 

"It's pure folly," Zelenskyy said.

Asked whether he would give up the entire Donbas in exchange for allied security guarantees with foreign troops on the ground, Zelenskyy first noted that Russia opposes any foreign troops in Ukraine and called on Europe to be firmer on this point — then refused outright. He also pushed back on Russia's objection to foreign troops in Ukraine, noting Moscow has 10,000 North Korean soldiers fighting on its own territory. 

"I will never leave the Donbas and the 200,000 Ukrainians who live there," he said. "These are our best defensive fortifications. If we withdraw, Russia gets a clear path to the center of the country."

Zelenskyy warned against relying on any foreign troop presence long-term. 

"I don't want to draw parallels, but remember the withdrawal from Afghanistan," he said. "What happens if in 10 years not Trump but another US president decides to pull out the soldiers? We need a strong Ukrainian defense line."