US and Russia meet in Abu Dhabi for Ukraine peace talks
Negotiators gather on the eve of the war's fifth anniversary to discuss security guarantees and territorial control in the east.
By Matthew Collins ·
Senior diplomats from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine began trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi on November 9. This marks the first direct meeting between the three parties since February, occurring just one day before the fifth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The central issue remains the status of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces currently occupy the majority of this area. Moscow insists that Kyiv cede the remaining portions it controls. Ukraine argues that freezing the current contact line is necessary to maintain sovereignty over those territories. Although public statements from both capitals remain distant, a US official noted that private discussions reveal more flexibility than public rhetoric suggests.
Jared Kushner, who traveled to the Gulf alongside envoy Steve Witkoff, said the talks focus on postwar security. He stated that the goal is to encourage all parties to consider the conditions that will exist after the war ends. The proposed framework includes security consultations, crisis hotlines, and reciprocal de-escalation measures. There is also discussion about reactivating the NATO-Russia Council, a body that has been largely inactive since 2022.
US officials linked the resolution of the territorial dispute to a new security architecture. For Ukraine, this might include guarantees of military aid from allies if attacked again. For Russia, the arrangement could involve a withdrawal of NATO forces from eastern Europe. A US official explained that finalizing the security framework is a prerequisite for agreeing on borders.
European leaders, who have been mostly excluded from these recent trilateral sessions, are pushing for inclusion. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, urged that NATO and EU members be part of any discussions on the continent's security. President Volodymyr Zelensky has echoed this demand, stating that Kyiv wants Europe to be part of the process. The US indicated it would propose a multilateral format to bring European nations into the fold, though a US official acknowledged that securing Russian participation could be difficult.
The Moscow delegation includes Vladimir Medinsky, Sergei Ryabkov, and Igor Kostyukov. Kyiv sent Rustem Umerov and Kyrylo Budanov. While officials negotiate, Russian forces continue to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko told the BBC that he believes President Donald Trump seeks a quick deal that favors Moscow. Merezhko argued that greater pressure through sanctions and deep strikes is needed to force Russia into real negotiations, citing recent US purchases of Russian diesel as evidence that Moscow is encouraged to continue fighting.
Kushner described the conflict as extraordinarily difficult and complicated. He added that the US is approaching the discussions with determination and realism, while remaining cautious about the immediate outcomes of the Abu Dhabi meeting.
