Nov 10, 5:01 AM
Trilateral Talks on Ukrainian War Resume in Abu Dhabi
Delegations from Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington assemble for their first three-way negotiations since February.
Senior representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have convened in Abu Dhabi for trilateral discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting marks the first formal trilateral gathering between the three nations since negotiations in Geneva ended without agreement in February.
The American delegation in the United Arab Emirates includes special peace envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, an adviser to US President Donald Trump. Kyiv has dispatched Foreign Intelligence Service head Rustem Umerov, presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov, and lawmaker Davyd Arakhamiya. Russia's delegation is led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky alongside deputy foreign ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, spy chief Igor Kostyukov, and army general Yury Zhigarlovsky.
Discussions in Abu Dhabi focus on post-war security arrangements and the control of disputed territory in the eastern Donetsk region. Moscow has demanded that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the remaining areas of Donetsk under Kyiv's control, while Ukrainian negotiators maintain that freezing the current contact line is necessary for national security. According to a US official speaking on the eve of the talks, both delegations have privately indicated flexibility regarding post-war security structures despite holding rigid public stances.
Proposals put forward by US officials include establishing crisis communications channels, implementing reciprocal de-escalation measures, and considering the reactivation of the NATO-Russia Council. US negotiators emphasized that decisions on territorial control and long-term security guarantees are mutually dependent. Washington also indicated plans to propose transitioning the discussions into a multilateral format that includes European governments.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that European Union member states and NATO allies must be included in any formal discussions on European security architecture. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has similarly called for European representation in the negotiations. The US delegation noted that Moscow has previously expressed reservations regarding European participation, while Ukrainian parliamentary committee chairman Oleksandr Merezhko voiced concern that rapid negotiations could result in terms unfavorable to Ukraine.
Written by Christiane Hofreiter christiane.hofreiter@alpineweekly.com
