Ukraine, Russia and US to hold first trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi amid rising tensions

Senior officials from Moscow, Kyiv and Washington are meeting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for the first trilateral talks aimed at ending the war since February. The discussions take place as the fifth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches and just after a deadly Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia killed at least 40 people.

Delegations And Goals

Jared Kushner and peace envoy Steve Witkoff represent the United States, with Kushner stating the talks will focus on postwar security concerns for both nations. Moscow's delegation features Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, deputy foreign ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, spy chief Igor Kostyukov and army general Yury Zhigarlovsky. Kyiv is sending Foreign Intelligence Service head Rustem Umerov, chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov and MP Davyd Arakhamiya.

Key Sticking Points

A major disagreement involves Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, mostly occupied by Russia. Moscow demands Ukraine give up remaining parts it holds, while Kyiv wants to freeze the contact line for security. However, US officials note both sides show private flexibility, though a deal requires deciding on a new postwar security architecture involving security consultations, crisis hotlines and the potential re-activation of the Nato-Russia Council.

European Involvement

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed France, the UK and Germany will be in the meeting room after European leaders pushed for inclusion over fears of being left out of continental security decisions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both urged including NATO and EU members in discussions, while US officials plan to propose a multilateral format.

Context

These high-level diplomatic efforts follow a series of recent US-led initiatives under President Donald Trump to bring warring sides to the table despite deep skepticism from Ukrainian officials. Such peace talks typically require delicate negotiations over territorial control and long-term security guarantees to bridge vast differences between opposing nations. This follows an earlier report, covered earlier on 10 Nov 2026: 'Ukraine peace talks resume with 'some flexibility' by warring sides, US officials say'.