Russia, Ukraine and US envoys meet in Abu Dhabi for peace talks
Envoys from Moscow, Kyiv and Washington convene for two days of trilateral negotiations addressing Donetsk, ceasefire monitoring and post-war security.
Senior officials from Russia, Ukraine and the United States are meeting in Abu Dhabi to begin two days of trilateral talks on ceasefire monitoring, disputed territories and post-war security arrangements.
The summit marks the first formal trilateral negotiations involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington since previous discussions in Geneva stalled in February. US officials mediating the talks stated that both Moscow and Kyiv have privately demonstrated some flexibility regarding control over eastern Ukrainian regions, despite maintaining rigid public positions.
A central point of disagreement remains the Donetsk region. Moscow continues to demand that Kyiv hand over the remaining portions of Donetsk under Ukrainian control, while Kyiv insists on freezing the current line of contact to protect its defensive security. US negotiators acknowledged that resolving the territorial stalemate will depend on establishing an agreed security framework for the region once fighting stops.
Delegations in Abu Dhabi
The talks bring together senior intelligence, military and political figures from all three nations.
| Country | Key representatives | Main objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | Vladimir Medinsky, Sergei Ryabkov, Mikhail Galuzin, Igor Kostyukov, Yury Zhigarlovsky | Control over Donetsk, NATO rollback from eastern Europe |
| Ukraine | Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, Davyd Arakhamiya | Freeze contact line, security guarantees, European involvement |
| United States | Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff | Ceasefire monitoring, crisis hotlines, reciprocal de-escalation |
Proposed post-war arrangements under discussion include crisis communication hotlines, security consultations and reciprocal de-escalation measures, alongside the potential re-activation of the NATO-Russia Council.
European inclusion and security concerns
European leaders have pressed for direct involvement in discussions about the continent's future security. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the inclusion of NATO allies and European Union members in any formal negotiations. US representatives noted they intend to propose expanding future talks into a multilateral format that includes European partners.
In Kyiv, some officials expressed scepticism about the diplomatic push. Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, warned that Moscow currently lacks incentives to negotiate genuine terms while its war economy remains active, calling instead for tighter sanctions and long-range strike capabilities.
Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure have continued, providing a tense backdrop as delegates gather in the UAE capital.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled duration of talks | 2 days | Senior US official |
| Previous round of trilateral talks | February 2026 | US officials |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | The host city for the trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US. |
| Russia | Party to the negotiations represented by senior officials. |
| Ukraine | Party to the negotiations represented by senior intelligence and political figures. |
| United States | Mediating country represented by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. |
