Kushner calls for direct Russia-Europe talks before Abu Dhabi Ukraine negotiations

Kushner's call for direct talks

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump and one of the American negotiators, said on Monday, 9 November 2026 that Russia and Europe must hold "direct" talks on "broader security arrangements" as part of a peace agreement for Ukraine. He made the case in a long post on X, in which he wrote that he is aware of the difficult decisions ahead.

The Abu Dhabi round

Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States are heading to Abu Dhabi for trilateral negotiations scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 and 11 November. These are the first trilateral talks since February. Kushner said representatives of the EU, NATO, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy will be present in Abu Dhabi, and that American envoys will meet them to continue close consultation on European security and Ukraine's postwar future.

Ukraine and Europe coordinate

Rustem Umerov, a member of the Ukrainian delegation, confirmed that Europeans will attend in Abu Dhabi. He said separate coordination meetings with European partners will be organised, and that keeping positions aligned with key partners is essential for Kyiv. Umerov added that, following instructions from President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine is working to ensure Europe is part of the diplomatic process. Ukraine coordinated with the EU ahead of the Abu Dhabi negotiations, and Zelensky met the Russian side after that coordination.

What the talks are meant to achieve

Kushner wrote that the Abu Dhabi discussions should identify areas of common interest, advance practical solutions and build momentum for the next phase of negotiations. He argued that a comprehensive and lasting agreement would also require a direct commitment between Russia and European partners on the wider security arrangements that concern them. He hopes the Abu Dhabi meeting will create the conditions for that commitment to begin in the near future, as part of a broader multilateral process. Kushner also said the US president is determined to end the war.