Ukraine-Russia talks resume in Abu Dhabi after nine-month pause, with US mediation
Russia-Ukraine talks resume
Trilateral talks between the United States, Ukraine and Russia aimed at ending the war in Ukraine resumed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on 10 November. The meetings will continue on 11 November.
The main issues on the agenda include security guarantees for the post-war period, a ceasefire and the future of Ukraine’s eastern territories.
This is the first meeting in this trilateral format since February 2026. The United States is mediating the talks.
Who is taking part in the talks?
Ukraine’s delegation is led by Rustem Umerov, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service. Russia’s delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin. US President Donald Trump is represented by his special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
At the initial stage, the Ukrainian delegation held meetings with representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission. The talks then continued in a trilateral format involving Ukraine, the US and Russia.
According to Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s main priorities include ending the fighting, securing reliable post-war security guarantees, rebuilding the country’s economy and resolving humanitarian issues.
At the start of the meeting, US representative Jared Kushner said recent contacts had helped narrow the differences between the sides. “He [Trump] asked us to make an extra effort to find a solution that, hopefully, will end the war and put both sides in a much stronger position, giving them the opportunity to realise the full potential of their countries,” Kushner said.
Meanwhile, Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky expressed hope that the talks would bring progress towards peace, in the interests of the people of both countries.
Donetsk and post-war security guarantees
One of the most difficult issues in the negotiations concerns control over territories in eastern Ukraine, particularly in Donetsk region.
Russia demands that Ukraine surrender the parts of Donetsk region it still controls. Kyiv, however, refuses to give up land that Ukrainian forces have spent years defending.
At a briefing on 9 November, an unnamed US official said both sides had shown some flexibility on territorial issues during closed-door discussions.
However, the official stressed that they could not reach an agreement on this issue until they had established what the post-war security arrangements would look like.
“They will not be able to resolve the issue of Donetsk or the territorial question until they understand what the post-war security architecture will look like. It is important to understand that neither issue can be finally agreed without the other,” the US official said.
According to the official, security guarantees for Ukraine could include a mechanism similar to Articles 4 and 5 of the NATO treaty, providing for consultations and defensive assistance in the event of a security threat.
A senior Ukrainian official told Reuters that Kyiv was not discussing territorial concessions. The official said the issue could only be addressed by the countries’ leaders and only in the context of providing Ukraine with appropriate security guarantees.
Europe seeks a role in the talks
Ahead of the trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi, representatives of Ukraine, the US, the EU, NATO, the UK, France, Germany and Italy also gathered in the city.
On 9 November, following a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said:
“The European Union will be represented, together with our partners.”
She also backed efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and called for an end to attacks on food and energy infrastructure.
European leaders insist that Europe itself must have a say in decisions concerning the security of the continent.
In their view, lasting peace in Ukraine will be impossible without reliable security guarantees.
Russia, however, said that the ongoing talks in Abu Dhabi should involve only Russia, Ukraine and the United States, with European representatives excluded from the meetings.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Americans had their own channels of communication with the Europeans, as did the Ukrainians.
Why have the talks resumed now?
The previous trilateral meetings between the US, Russia and Ukraine on the war took place in January and February 2026. The latest round was held in Geneva on 17–18 February, but the sides failed to reach an agreement.
One reason for the pause was the war between the US, Israel and Iran, which shifted Washington’s attention away from Ukraine to other developments.
On Thursday, 5 November, Donald Trump met Kirill Dmitriev, a representative of the Russian president, at the White House.
Following the meeting, Trump said a “big deal” to end the war in Ukraine could be reached. He suggested the agreement would go beyond Ukraine and involve other European countries.
“This will be a big deal, and it won’t be limited to Ukraine alone. You could say that all of Europe will be involved,” Trump said.
Ukraine remains sceptical that Trump’s proposed deal could deliver a just peace. Kyiv insists that the war must not end at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The talks in Abu Dhabi will continue on 11 November. It remains unclear whether the sides will reach a concrete agreement. Their main disagreements still concern territorial issues and the format of security guarantees for Ukraine.
Russia-Ukraine talks resume
