Abu Dhabi Hosts US, Russia and Ukraine Talks to End Ongoing War
The United States, Russia and Ukraine have resumed trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi to explore ways to end the ongoing war. The discussions focus on territorial disputes, postwar security guarantees and European involvement, although disagreements over these issues and Russia's reluctance to make concessions continue to limit expectations of a breakthrough.
The negotiations mark the first three-way discussions since February. The first day of talks ended on 10th Nov, with additional talks set for 11th Nov. The meeting also will review postwar security arrangements, territorial issues in eastern Ukraine and steps to ensure lasting peace, U.S. officials said.
The resuming talks come on top of the growing diplomatic efforts among Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv over the last month. The Trump administration is still talking to both sides on an almost daily basis about potential solutions to the conflict, U.S. officials said.
Also Read: US House of Representatives to Take Up Russia Sanctions Bill
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was happy about the first talks. He said the meeting of G7 foreign ministers “went very well” when he spoke in Paris. But hopes for a resolution have been low; however, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been slow to want the end of the five-year-old conflict.
Key Highlights
- US, Russia and Ukraine resume trilateral peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi
- Discussions focus on territorial disputes and postwar security guarantees
- Moscow rejects European participation and Ukraine's proposed limited ceasefire
One key issue that is still not resolved is Europe's role in the peace process. The Trump administration would like to see European leaders join in multilateral negotiations for a permanent solution, a U.S. official said.
“We do believe very strongly that at this point, in order to end the war, you really need to have Europe at the table,” the official said.
However, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov denied direct involvement of Europeans in talks with Moscow. The delegates from a number of European countries visited Abu Dhabi, but they were not invited to participate in the trilateral talks. They flew to Abu Dhabi. “Let them be in the hotel,” Lavrov commented on their participation.
Moscow also did not agree to a "temporary" cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. Without knowing what happens next, Russia would not agree to a fresh cease-fire, Lavrov said. Clear outlines of future security architecture would be needed to discuss a comprehensive peace settlement, he added.
The first round of talks was “constructive and quite substantive”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He shared the information with his negotiating team on security guarantees and long-term plans for Ukraine's security. The need for de-escalation measures was also discussed.
Also Read: Trump, Moving Forward with Ukraine-Russia Discussions
In parallel to the trilateral talks, US, Ukrainian and European officials engaged in separate talks on a long-term European security framework. The meeting was devoted to enhancing security in Ukraine and confidence for a negotiated settlement, the European Commission said.
Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union and NATO were represented. The talks also focused on the potential for existing European security institutions and agreements to help maintain stability in the region post-war.
The participants confirmed their dedication to a robust future European security arrangement and agreed that NATO will continue to play a key role in Euro-Atlantic collective security, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said.
It has also been suggested by the Trump administration that it could offer Ukraine a security guarantee like Article 5 of NATO, the article on collective defence. Washington has asked Moscow if it would object to such an arrangement, said one of the US officials. But that would be up to Trump.
The territorial conflict is still a serious issue. Putin is calling for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from parts of the Donbas region under Kyiv control if they wish to have a ceasefire. The territorial issues should be put directly before the leaders of the two countries, Volodymyr said.
European diplomats say it is important to keep trying to reach an agreement despite the lack of immediate expectations, in order to preserve Ukraine's investments and to resolve broader European security issues. The talks represent another step towards progress in diplomacy, but there remain disagreements on the ground regarding territory, security guarantees and international participation in efforts to bring the conflict to an end.