US Leads Fresh Russia–Ukraine Peace Talks in Abu Dhabi as Territorial Disagreements Persist

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Russia, Ukraine and the United States have resumed direct trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi, marking the first such meeting since February as Washington intensifies efforts to end the war that has devastated Ukraine for nearly five years.

The two-day discussions began on Tuesday, November 10, with American representatives Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff participating in the diplomatic initiative.

Ukraine's delegation is led by Rustem Umerov, while Russia's delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky.

The negotiations are focused on possible security guarantees, reducing military escalation and establishing a framework for a lasting settlement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the discussions as productive, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that issues including prisoners, security guarantees and de-escalation had featured in the negotiations.

Despite the renewed diplomatic engagement, significant obstacles remain.

Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to demand Ukrainian territorial concessions, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from parts of the Donbas region. Moscow also opposes Ukraine's proposed NATO membership and wants restrictions on its future military capabilities.

Ukraine, however, has rejected demands to surrender its territory, insisting that any settlement must preserve its sovereignty and provide credible security guarantees against future Russian aggression.

The negotiations have also exposed disagreements over the involvement of European countries. While Moscow has expressed reservations about European participation in the current trilateral format, several European governments insist that their security interests must be represented in any comprehensive agreement.

Meanwhile, military operations have continued. Ukrainian authorities reported Russian drone and missile attacks, while Russia also reported intercepting Ukrainian drones.

The talks therefore represent an important diplomatic opening rather than evidence that the conflict is approaching an immediate conclusion.

With both countries maintaining fundamentally different positions on territorial control and security arrangements, the success of the renewed American initiative remains uncertain.