Russia said on Thursday it would hold security talks with the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, following late-night discussions between President Vladimir Putin and US envoys, but warned that a lasting peace would not be possible unless territorial disputes were resolved.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the talks, which began shortly before midnight and lasted around four hours, were “substantive, constructive and very frank,” though he stopped short of describing them as a breakthrough. He said Russian Admiral Igor Kostyukov would lead Moscow’s delegation at the three-way security meeting, while investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev would hold separate economic discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff.

Ushakov said Putin reiterated that Russia was “sincerely interested” in a diplomatic solution, but stressed that without resolving territorial questions under a framework discussed at last year’s Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska, there was “no hope of achieving a long-term settlement.” Until then, he added, Russia would continue pursuing the objectives of what it calls its “special military operation.”

The talks come as the war approaches the end of its fourth year and Ukraine faces intensified winter attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving large parts of the country without power and heating during freezing temperatures. Kyiv cites the strikes as evidence that Moscow is not serious about peace, a claim Russia disputes.

The Abu Dhabi meeting is part of a renewed US diplomatic push to end the conflict. US President Donald Trump has urged both sides to reach a deal, warning that failure to do so would be costly.

A central sticking point remains territory. Russia is demanding that Ukraine relinquish parts of eastern Ukraine it still controls, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly rejected giving up land defended at heavy cost. Moscow also wants Ukraine to abandon its bid to join NATO and opposes any NATO troop presence in Ukraine after a peace agreement.

Zelenskiy said after meeting Trump in Switzerland that security guarantees for Ukraine had been finalised, but acknowledged that the issue of territory remained unresolved.