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 Ukraine’s priority list for good reason. Repeated strikes on power generation and distribution facilities have left millions of Ukrainians facing harsh winters with diminished heating capacity.

Grain exports carry stakes well beyond Ukraine’s borders. The country remains one of the world’s largest producers of wheat, corn, and sunflower oil. Disruptions to those supply chains ripple through global food markets, hitting import-dependent nations in Africa and the Middle East hardest.

Zelensky has framed faster prisoner-of-war exchanges as a litmus test for whether negotiations are producing real results or just photo opportunities, emphasizing outcomes over process.

What comes next

No final date or exact location has been confirmed. Ukraine’s preference is to hold the meeting in autumn 2026, ideally in September, but that timeline depends on all parties agreeing. Russia’s willingness to participate remains the key variable.

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