Three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States opened Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, marking the first trilateral session since February as Washington renews its push to end the war.
Negotiators Seek a Regional Security Framework for Ukraine
The two-day session in the capital of the United Arab Emirates focuses on security guarantees, according to the White House. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Moscow that negotiations would center on the key elements of a regional security framework, Yahoo reported.
Jared Kushner, serving as a U.S. negotiator alongside Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, posted on X that they were working hard to find a negotiated solution that can deliver lasting peace and create the conditions for a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Ukraine within a more stable European security environment.
Kushner added that a comprehensive settlement would require direct engagement between Russia and European partners on broader security arrangements.
President Donald Trump’s administration sought a diplomatic breakthrough in Abu Dhabi following 1,721 days of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia are tired of fighting, while his chief negotiating envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, led the U.S. delegation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and counterparts from the Group of 7 developed democracies also turned their attention toward supporting Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Rubio in France before attending a larger group meeting with the entire G7 at the French foreign ministry. Officials stated that representatives from Britain, Germany, France, NATO, and the European Union would discuss potential security guarantees and long-term security architecture beforehand, while Russia resisted European participation and insisted on a strict trilateral format involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that any meaningful discussions about Europe’s security architecture can only be undertaken once a ceasefire in Ukraine has been achieved, and that it must take place in an appropriate forum, in particular with NATO Allies and EU partners.
German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul emphasized during a meeting with Rubio that Europe belongs at the table. Meanwhile, Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky stated that an end to the war was needed in the interests of both the Ukrainian and Russian people, adding that Russia had drawn up a position paper on the future security architecture in the Eurasian region.
Ukrainian and Russian Delegations Lead the Trilateral Meetings
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service and its lead representative in previous rounds of talks. A source in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office told ABC News that Umerov serves as Kyiv’s lead representative.
The Russian delegation is led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, according to reports. The Russian delegation includes deputy foreign ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, and General Staff officers Igor Kostyukov and Yuri Shigarlovsky.
Before the trilateral meetings, Western allies met with the Ukrainian negotiating team in a coordination session. Participants included representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission, alongside Kushner and Witkoff.
Umerov stated via Telegram that coordination with all key partners is of fundamental importance to Kyiv, noting that top priorities include the cessation of hostilities, reliable post-war security guarantees, economic recovery and development, and humanitarian measures. Previous trilateral talks took place in Geneva in February, following two previous meetings in Abu Dhabi, as well as earlier sessions in January and February.
Ahead of the talks, intense fighting and long-range strikes continued along the front lines and against critical infrastructure. Russia battered Ukraine’s power grid with ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, seeking to weaken resolve as winter sets in and taking advantage of Ukraine’s shortage of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors.
Ukraine, meanwhile, escalated its drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, setting fire to one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in the Leningrad region. The war has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of civilians, according to analysts and humanitarian organizations, with both armies remaining largely deadlocked on the front line.
Earlier coverage: France to Participate in Ukraine Talks in Abu Dhabi