Trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States have opened in Abu Dhabi, as Washington renews efforts to broker an agreement to end the war that began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly five years ago.
The two-day meeting in the United Arab Emirates is the first trilateral session of its kind since February and is expected to focus on security guarantees for both countries, according to the White House.
The discussions seek to address one of the central obstacles to a settlement: Russia’s opposition to NATO’s military presence and influence in the region, and Ukraine’s demand for assurances that it will not face another Russian invasion.
The first day of negotiations ended after nearly four hours, according to a Russian news agency. Discussions are expected to resume tomorrow, the press office of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service said.
US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff are representing Washington in the effort to broker an agreement.
Speaking at the opening of the talks, Kushner stated that he believed the delegations had identified possible ways to bridge their differences.
“We take what’s worked, we try to identify what’s failed, why we’re in this position and hopefully create a new framework that leads us for decades, if not centuries, of peace.”
Jared Kushner
Kushner added that the objective was to establish a new understanding building on previous institutions and diplomatic arrangements.
Ukraine, Russia Outline Expectations
US General Alexus Grynkewich, who was also present at the meeting, highlighted previous military-to-military discussions involving the three countries as a basis for further engagement.
He said that the US delegation hoped to build on earlier progress and establish foundations for lasting peace.
Ukraine’s delegation is being led by Rustem Umerov, Head of the country’s Foreign Intelligence Service, who thanked Washington for its efforts to end the conflict.
“Our people are waiting to end this war. And we hope that we will achieve the lasting peace for Ukraine.”
Rustem Umerov
He disclosed that the Ukrainian delegation had begun the day with discussions involving US representatives and officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission.
The participation of European representatives and NATO officials reflects the wider security interests surrounding any potential agreement, particularly Ukraine’s future defence arrangements.
Russia’s delegation is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who expressed hope that the negotiations would advance efforts to end the conflict. He said that the meeting should help move the parties towards peace in the interests of both Russian and Ukrainian citizens.
The discussions come amid persistent disagreements over the conditions required to end the war.
Russia has repeatedly raised concerns about NATO’s expansion and military presence near its borders, while Ukraine has maintained that any settlement must include credible security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.
The White House said that the Abu Dhabi meeting would focus on establishing future security arrangements for the two countries.
However, the prospects of a breakthrough remain uncertain following three previous rounds of negotiations earlier in the year that failed to produce significant progress.
The conflict has also continued to exact a heavy human toll. Analysts and humanitarian organisations estimate that hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of civilians have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Fighting Continues As Diplomacy Resumes
The negotiations are taking place against a backdrop of continued military operations and long-range strikes by both sides, with neither army making decisive progress along much of the front line.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 162 drones of various types and a ballistic missile at Ukrainian targets overnight.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that its forces intercepted 155 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions and the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
The competing reports show the continued intensity of the conflict even as diplomatic efforts resume.
Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on several central elements of a possible settlement, including security arrangements and the conditions under which the fighting could end.
The Abu Dhabi negotiations therefore represent another attempt by Washington to bring the two sides closer to an agreement, although the continued strikes and unresolved differences suggest that reaching a lasting settlement will remain difficult.
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