Ukraine, US and Russia open trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on ending the war

Talks open in Abu Dhabi

Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the United States and Russia began on Tuesday, 10 November, in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Rustem Umierow, who chairs the Ukrainian delegation, announced the start on X and said the talks cover the central questions tied to ending hostilities. Sessions are planned for Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 November, and the Russian delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, an adviser to Vladimir Putin. It is the first meeting of this kind since February. Kyiv's stated priorities are ending the fighting, obtaining reliable security guarantees, rebuilding the economy and making progress on humanitarian questions.

Who is at the table

The Ukrainian team also includes Kyryło Budanow, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Dawyd Arachamija, head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, Serhij Kysłyca, first deputy head of the Presidential Office, and Wadym Skibicki, deputy head of Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR). Before the talks, Ukraine consulted the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission. Jean-Noël Barrot, France's foreign minister, told Franceinfo radio that French, German and British representatives would sit in the meeting room in Abu Dhabi. Government spokesman Steffen Meyer said on Monday, 9 November, that Guenter Sautter, an adviser to Chancellor Friedrich Merz on foreign and security policy, would represent Germany. Rzeczpospolita reported that the European representatives would not take part in the negotiations themselves, and US officials said later rounds would follow a multilateral format. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are taking part, while Le Parisien reported that Russia's delegation had been widened to include deputy foreign minister Siergiej Riabkow, who helped draft Moscow's December 2021 demands to Washington.

Security guarantees and Europe's role

Witkoff said the discussion focused on how existing European institutions and security arrangements could be used once the war ends, while Kushner argued for a new security framework involving Europe. Washington has asked Moscow to agree to guarantees for Ukraine modeled on Articles 4 and 5 of the NATO treaty, and the alliance would reportedly make similar commitments. The final scope and terms of those guarantees remain under negotiation. On Sunday, 8 November, Trump told CBS News that an agreement was close, though Ukraine would end up with a somewhat different shape. The Washington Post reported that the talks had been widened to include a broader European security architecture, a topic that fits the Kremlin's long-standing claim that its invasion answered NATO expansion to the east.

Concerns about a Russian trap

Le Parisien described the Russian approach as a trap, arguing that Moscow was ready to give ground on Ukraine in return for Western concessions on Europe. The paper suggested Russia might offer a ceasefire along the current front line and a pause in some attacks on large Ukrainian cities. In exchange, Washington could be invited to discuss limiting its military presence in Poland and the Baltic states, or cutting NATO's capacity on the eastern flank. Le Parisien called those decisions far more serious and far harder to reverse than the Russian offer. The Washington Post went further and said Witkoff and Kushner were conceding ground to Russia before the talks began, which could create the impression that Washington leans toward Moscow on the causes of the war.

Domestic pressure in Washington

The Washington Post linked the move to Trump's position at home. Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in the elections of 3 November, which the paper said will make it harder for him to advance his agenda in the second half of his term. The paper described the Abu Dhabi talks as a chance for Trump to reinforce his standing as a leader with a key international role. It also read the administration's effort to resume talks with Russia after months without progress as a sign of growing desperation. Talks are scheduled to continue on Wednesday, 11 November.