L to R: Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, December 2, 2025
Friday’s Coverage: Has Russia Agreed to Temporary Ceasefire Over Energy Infrastructure?
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concern that Sunday’s second round of Ukraine-Russia-US talks in Abu Dhabi may be postponed, as the Trump Administration does not confirm whom it is sending.
Donald Trump’s envoys, real estate developer Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, were at the last weekend’s opening sessions in the UAE. But on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they are not going on Sunday, and the Administration has not named replacements.
Zelensky said on Friday, “I don’t know when the next meeting will be. From our point of view, something is happening in the situation between the United States and Iran, and those developments could affect the timing.”
The Trump Administration has amassed an “armada” off the coast of the Islamic Republic and is threatening to attack. Witkoff is also Trump’s envoy for the Middle East and Iran.
Zelensky added, “It is very important for us that everyone we agreed with be present at the meeting, because everyone is expecting feedback.”
Adding to the uncertainty, the White House confirmed that Vladimir Putin’s senior financial advisor Kirill Dmitriev is travelling to Miami on Saturday for meetings.
In late October, Dmitriev colluded with Witkoff and Kushner on a 28-point ultimatum to Ukraine. The document demanded that Kyiv give up all of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, and that the rest of the country be kept weak with no effective security guarantees.
Ukraine-Europe counter-proposals pushed back the ultimatum, and even obtain US participation in security guarantees. However, Witkoff and Kushner are now reportedly insisting on Ukrainian withdrawal from Donetsk in return for the guarantees.
Kremlin Holds Out Over Territory and Security Guarantees
On Thursday, Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov poured cold water on any advance in the trilateral talks.
“The territorial issue is the most important issue but many other issues remain on the agenda,” Ushakov said. Asked about security guarantees for Ukraine, he snapped, “No one agreed on this.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Turkish media that Western security guarantees are an attempt to protect the “illegitimate” Ukrainian government.
In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky noted that Russia had switched from strikes on energy infrastructure to attacks on logistics.
Trump had declared Putin’s agreement to a week-long ceasefire over energy facilities, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Lavrov indicated that any halt would only be through Sunday.
The U.S. side spoke about refraining from strikes on energy infrastructure for a week—the countdown began overnight. How this all unfolds depends largely on our partners—the United States. Ukraine is ready to mirror the restraint, and today we did not attack Russian energy. pic.twitter.com/jiBYDCk6Wj
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 30, 2026
