TEHRAN — The first trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States since the start of the Moscow–Kyiv war in 2022 have concluded in Abu Dhabi with no sign of progress. The two-day meeting, which wrapped up on Saturday, brought the three sides together for direct discussions for the first time in nearly four years. But the core disagreements that have defined the conflict from the start remain firmly in place, and none of the parties suggested that a breakthrough is anywhere close.

The United Arab Emirates, which hosted the talks, said the meetings were held in a “positive atmosphere” and focused on unresolved parts of a US-proposed peace plan. Emirati officials described the exchanges as constructive, but they offered no details and made it clear that no agreement was reached on the most sensitive issues. Their cautious language reflected the reality that the talks did little to narrow the gap between the sides.

A source familiar with the negotiations said the hardest issue is still territory. Russia is demanding that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Donbas region, calling this a top priority. Ukraine has rejected this outright, and there is no indication Kyiv is willing to consider such a move. For Ukraine, giving up land is politically impossible. For Russia, control of Donbas is non-negotiable. This clash remains the central obstacle to any settlement.

The fact that the meeting happened at all is notable, but it also highlights how long diplomacy was pushed aside. For nearly four years, the US and Europe relied heavily on military pressure, sanctions and political messaging instead of sustained diplomatic engagement. Western governments insisted that more weapons and more time would eventually shift the balance. Instead, the war dragged on, costs mounted, and the political space for compromise narrowed.

Now, with public fatigue rising and budgets under strain, Washington and European capitals are facing the consequences of their earlier choices. The Abu Dhabi talks reflect this shift. They show that the same governments that once dismissed negotiations as premature are now trying to revive diplomacy after years of delay. But the delay has made the situation harder, not easier. The positions of both Russia and Ukraine have hardened, and the trust needed for meaningful talks has eroded.

For now, the two-day meeting ends without an agreement or a clear next step. Still, it marks a rare moment of direct contact between the three sides. Whether this leads to further rounds or becomes another brief attempt at dialogue remains uncertain. But the talks also serve as a reminder that the path to peace is more complicated today because early diplomatic opportunities were ignored.