Ukraine and Russia resume peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi

Senior officials from Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington are meeting in Abu Dhabi for the first trilateral talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine since February. The discussions take place on the eve of the fifth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. US officials indicated that both sides are privately demonstrating a degree of flexibility regarding the control of Ukraine's eastern regions in a postwar scenario.

Jared Kushner, a member of the US delegation alongside peace envoy Steve Witkoff, stated that the primary focus of the talks is addressing the postwar security concerns of both nations. He noted on social media that an important part of the process is encouraging all parties to seriously consider what comes after the war ends. Despite this forward-looking approach, the public positions of Moscow and Kyiv on ending the conflict remain significantly different.

A major point of contention remains the eastern region of Donetsk, which is largely occupied by Russian forces. Moscow has demanded that Ukraine relinquish the parts of the region it still controls, whereas Kyiv seeks to freeze the contact line to maintain sovereignty over those sections. Kyiv considers these areas crucial to its future security. Although neither side has publicly changed its demands, a US official suggested that the public stance masks private flexibility.

The official emphasized that the territorial dispute cannot be resolved without first establishing a new security architecture. He explained that the two issues are inextricably linked and that finalizing one will require progress on the other. For Ukraine, this architecture might include guarantees that allies will provide aid if it is attacked again. For Russia, it could involve its long-standing goal of seeing NATO roll back from eastern Europe, a prospect that continues to alarm European leaders.

The proposed framework includes security consultations, crisis communication hotlines, and reciprocal de-escalation measures between the two countries. There is also discussion about reactivating the NATO-Russia Council, which has been largely paused since 2022. The previous round of trilateral talks in Geneva in February ended without a breakthrough, and subsequent discussions were halted as the US-Israel war on Iran diverted Washington's attention.

European leaders, who have been largely excluded from recent peace talks, are pushing to be included in the process. They are concerned that decisions regarding the security of their continent are being made without their input. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged that NATO allies and EU members be included in any meaningful discussions about Europe's security architecture. President Volodymyr Zelensky has also repeatedly stated that Kyiv wants Europe to be part of the negotiations.

The US official indicated that Americans would propose moving to a multilateral format to bring European nations into the discussion. He acknowledged that securing Russian participation in this broader group might be difficult, noting that Russia has developed a negative perception of its European counterparts. Since starting his second term, President Donald Trump has spearheaded several rounds of talks to end the conflict, though with limited success so far.

Trump's increasingly conciliatory approach toward Moscow has caused unease in Kyiv and across the European Union. After meeting Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Washington last week, Trump touted a forthcoming major agreement on Ukraine that might involve all of Europe. However, many in Ukraine remain skeptical that this will result in a fair peace. Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the foreign affairs parliamentary committee, told the BBC that he believes Trump wants a quick deal at Ukraine's expense, which Kyiv would likely reject.

Merezhko argued that the only way to make Russian President Vladimir Putin start real negotiations is by applying greater pressure through sanctions and deep strikes. He stated that as long as Russia's war machine is operating, it has no incentive to negotiate. He also cited recent moves by Trump, such as a deal to buy diesel from Russia, as actions that encourage Moscow to continue the war. The Moscow delegation in Abu Dhabi includes senior figures such as Vladimir Medinsky, Sergei Ryabkov, and Igor Kostyukov, while Kyiv is sending officials including Rustem Umerov and Kyrylo Budanov.

Away from the negotiation table, Russia continues to bombard Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure. Kyiv views these strikes as proof that Moscow aims to force Ukraine into accepting a deal on Russian terms. Kushner remained cautious, noting that the Abu Dhabi talks could at most build momentum toward the next phase of negotiations. He described the conflict as extraordinarily difficult and complicated, adding that the US is approaching the discussions with determination and realism.