Hamad Al Kaabi / Reuters
This is the first trilateral meeting between representatives of Moscow, Kyiv and Washington in almost nine months. The previous round of talks took place in February 2026.
According to RBC, the Russian delegation is led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky. It also includes Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, as well as Igor Kostyukov, Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff. According to RBC and RT, representatives of the FSB and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are taking part in the delegation’s work.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. It includes the Head of the President’s Office, Kirill Budanov, his First Deputy, Sergei Kislitsa, and other representatives of the country’s political and military leadership.
The US is represented at the talks by the President’s Special Envoy, Steve Whitcroft, and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
At the start of the meeting, Medinsky thanked the UAE for organising the talks and the US for its efforts towards a peaceful settlement. Umerov stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had authorised the delegation to discuss all issues. Kushner expressed hope that positive results would be achieved.
Security guarantees and the territorial issue
One of the central themes of the talks will be security guarantees for Ukraine and Russia, as well as the future security architecture in Europe. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously stated that discussions on these issues had made progress, but that no final agreements had yet been reached.
According to Politico, the first day of talks was devoted to security issues, whilst on the second day the parties planned to move on to territorial issues, including borders and demarcation lines.
Moscow and Kyiv’s positions on key issues remain at odds. Russia insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the entire territory of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as well as on Ukraine’s neutral status and its renunciation of membership in military alliances. Moscow also opposes a ceasefire until a comprehensive peace agreement has been concluded.
Kyiv, for its part, insists on a cessation of hostilities along the current front line without making any territorial concessions. Among Ukraine’s proposals are an energy truce, the reopening of Black Sea ports and agreements on the export of agricultural produce.
Europe is also seeking to play a role
The participation of European countries in the negotiation process remains a separate issue. According to the Financial Times and Politico, national security advisers from France, Germany and the UK, as well as representatives of the European Commission and NATO, are due to arrive in Abu Dhabi. However, European officials are expected to take part only in certain stages of the meetings.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he has agreed a position on the negotiations with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Kyiv insists that European security issues must be discussed with the participation of European states.
Moscow emphasises that the talks in Abu Dhabi are taking place in a trilateral format — between Russia, Ukraine and the US. Meanwhile, according to Politico, Washington is in favour of more active participation by European representatives in discussions on the terms for ending the war.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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