Ukraine Peace Talks Resume in Abu Dhabi After 9-Month Hiatus

A new round of peace talks between the US, Ukraine, and Russia has begun in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The talks, which are the first of their kind since February, aim to end the nearly five-year conflict in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and negotiator, Jared Kushner, stated that the goal is not only to discuss bilateral issues but also to create a secure relationship between Ukraine, Russia, and Europe.

The talks involve national security advisers from several European nations, as well as officials from NATO and the European Union. However, Russia has made it clear that it wants the negotiations to be strictly trilateral. The US is represented by Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, while Ukraine's foreign intelligence chief, Rustem Umerov, leads the Ukrainian delegation. Russia has sent deputy foreign ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, as well as Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky.

These talks come amid a renewed push by European nations for a more active role in negotiations over Ukraine's future and the security of the bloc. European nations have long been wary of any US-brokered peace deal negotiated without their involvement. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the importance of European participation in the diplomatic process. The Elysée Palace in Paris stated that the pursuit of peace in Ukraine and security in Europe are inextricably linked.

The main talks will remain trilateral, but Witkoff stated that he and Kushner met with Ukrainian and European partners to continue close coordination on efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to a strong post-war European security architecture and arrangements. A strong NATO will remain central to Euro-Atlantic collective defense, according to Witkoff.

This is the fourth round of trilateral talks, and all have ended without significant breakthrough. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated that trilateral talks in Geneva fell short of Ukraine's goals. Russia's President Vladimir Putin is still making maximalist demands, including Russian control over Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and a reduction in Ukraine's military size.

The situation on the ground in Ukraine remains dire, with Russia's full-scale invasion now in its fifth year. Moscow has escalated its aerial attacks, resulting in deadly consequences for Ukrainians. At least 55 people were killed in a recent bombing in Zaporizhzhia, marking one of the deadliest single incidents of the war to date. Civilian deaths in Ukraine are at their highest point since the start of the war.

The US stance on the war is complicated, with the Trump administration's relationship with Kyiv being decidedly different from the Biden administration's. The Trump administration halted financial aid to Ukraine at the beginning of its term. The outcome of the midterm elections could potentially impact the US position on the war.

Key points

• The talks aim to create a secure relationship between Ukraine, Russia, and Europe.
• European nations are pushing for a more active role in negotiations over Ukraine's future.
• The situation on the ground in Ukraine remains dire, with escalated aerial attacks and increasing civilian deaths.