UPDATE - Russian, Ukrainian, US officials gather in Abu Dhabi for 2nd round of trilateral peace talks

UPDATES WITH DETAILS ON UKRAINIAN DELEGATION'S ARRIVAL IN ABU DHABI; EDITS THROUGH

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Officials from Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington gather in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday for a second round of trilateral talks aiming to find a settlement for the Russia-Ukraine war set to enter its fifth year later this month.

Citing its correspondents, Russian state news agency RIA said Wednesday morning that the plane carrying US special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Abu Dhabi following a visit to Israel on Tuesday for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Iran, according to local media reports.

Earlier, RIA reported that a plane, said to be carrying Russia’s delegation, led by Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the country’s General Staff, landed in the Emirati capital.

It stated that, according to Flightradar24, the plane landed at around 1.10 am local time (2110GMT).

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne also reported on Wednesday that Kyiv's delegation arrived in Abu Dhabi.

Late Tuesday, Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov wrote on Telegram that his country’s delegation reported to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on preparations for the second round of trilateral talks, as well as separate bilateral negotiations with the US side.

“Today (Tuesday), the Ukrainian delegation is departing for Abu Dhabi. … We have agreed frameworks and clear directives from the president. Our task is to achieve a just and lasting peace that will create the foundation for Ukraine’s safe reconstruction and economic recovery,” Umerov added.

The talks, which are expected to last for two days, come following an earlier round of consultations held on Jan. 23-24, also in Abu Dhabi, during which Witkoff, Kostyukov, and Umerov were also present.