Kremlin says any Putin–Zelensky meeting must be in Moscow as Abu Dhabi talks are scheduled
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Summary
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky could only take place in Moscow; the broadcast also reports a second round of delegation talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. set for Feb. 4–5 in Abu Dhabi.
The Kremlin on Feb. 2 told the Nastoyaschee Vremya broadcast that any personal meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could occur only in Moscow, while separately delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States were reported to meet in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4–5.
Program host Irina Rommaliyskaya read a Kremlin statement and quoted press secretary Dmitry Peskov, noting there was "nothing to add" to earlier comments and repeating the Kremlin position that a meeting could only take place in Moscow. The broadcast said Kyiv had not yet commented on that specific formulation.
The program also reported that a second round of talks among the three delegations is scheduled for Feb. 4–5 in Abu Dhabi; it referenced earlier invitations from Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov that Kyiv previously called "not constructive." The report quoted U.S. and Russian interlocutors, including a description by negotiator Steve Whitcov (transliterated in the broadcast) of topics discussed in earlier meetings and a Kremlin summary that recent U.S.–Russian talks in Miami were "constructive."
The program also noted public statements from Ukrainian authorities that the territorial question remains central to any peace plan and that President Zelensky has said territorial issues could require a personal meeting with President Putin.
On air, Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev was quoted describing recent U.S.–Russia engagement as encouraging; no firm agreement emerging from the Abu Dhabi sessions was presented in the broadcast excerpt.