Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are set to begin trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
The meeting aims to address a potential end to the conflict, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims recent battlefield gains have strengthened Ukraine’s position in upcoming negotiations.
This high-stakes summit in the United Arab Emirates marks the third round of talks held in the capital this year, following security consultations in January and February. The delegations last met in Geneva on February 18.
This session arrives at a critical juncture, as the Trump administration intensifies its drive to secure a settlement nearly five years after the full-scale invasion began. Donald Trump told reporters in Washington, D.C., that he sees a very strong inclination
toward ending the war because both sides are tired of fighting
.
The stakes for the global order are immense. A proposal involving a new long-term security architecture is part of the Trump administration’s efforts in Abu Dhabi. US officials said they seek a final end
to the war, and one administration official noted that the US would need Europe at the table
to achieve this.
Our negotiating team is already in the United Arab Emirates. The first meeting is tomorrow. Our European partners will also be there, and we will have separate formats with them. All of them must serve one purpose: bringing real peace closer. At the meetings in Abu Dhabi, our… pic.twitter.com/FlpOtPP2w3
Zelenskyy asserts battlefield advantage
In a nightly video address on Monday, Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces are genuinely strengthening Ukraine’s negotiating position.
He said Russia is suffering record losses
and that long-range strikes on Russian targets, such as oil facilities, are having an effect. Russia can do this. It can end its war.
The US mediation is spearheaded by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Kushner said Monday that the administration is working hard to find a negotiated solution that can deliver lasting peace and create the conditions for a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Ukraine.
I spoke with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi @narendramodi and briefed him on the latest diplomatic developments. We are actively preparing on every item on the agenda for the meeting in Abu Dhabi. Ukraine has always taken a constructive approach, and Russia must show the… pic.twitter.com/UTe17pVWBN
Security guarantees and territorial friction
American officials are formally asking Moscow if it would accept an Article 5-style commitment for Ukraine. This would require the US and potentially NATO to defend Ukraine in the event of a future attack. One administration official said that what Ukraine would receive would be effectively very similar to Nato,
though they added that getting a US security guarantee is a really, really big deal.
But there is a catch: Russia has consistently opposed NATO membership for Ukraine or the presence of Western troops on Ukrainian soil. While a US official stated that a US security guarantee would be a really, really big deal,
the feasibility of such a demand remains unproven.
Territory remains the ultimate sticking point. Russia currently occupies roughly 20 percent of Ukraine, including Crimea and parts of the Donbas. President Vladimir Putin seeks full control of the Donbas, while Ukraine demands a return to its original borders.
President Donald Trump has suggested that Ukraine might end up in a little bit different shape,
implying potential territorial concessions. An anonymous US official said both Russia and Ukraine have privately shown flexibility regarding a possible exchange of territory, noting such an agreement would likely occur at the end of negotiations once a security framework is settled.
| Key Negotiating Issue | Ukraine’s Position | Russia’s Position | US/Mediator Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Territorial Integrity | Return to original borders | Control of Donbas region | Trump has suggested potential cessions |
| Security Framework | NATO-style Article 5 protections | Opposition to Western troops | Proposing “Article 5-like” guarantees |
| Sanctions | – | Potential lifting for a deal | Sanctions relief is a possible lever |
Abu Dhabi talks exclude European officials from trilateral format
The trilateral format of the Abu Dhabi talks, involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, excludes European officials. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that the talks are strictly a three-way format between Russia, Ukraine, and the US.
He argued that Europe has its own separate communication channels with both Kyiv and Washington. Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, who will lead the Ukrainian delegation, added, We will hold separate coordination meetings with our European partners.
Today, the UN Security Council will meet on Ukraine at 5 pm Kyiv time. Ukraine remains committed to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. As diplomatic efforts continue, the world must not lose sight of the human cost of Russia’s war. Every day, civilians across…
The US government halted financial aid to Ukraine in early 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained a cautious stance, saying that the process to end the war still has a ways to go.
He noted, And that’s what we’ve been trying to do the whole time is try to be creative and find ways that we can help bring that conflict and that war to an end.
However, Rubio also claimed there have been some advances made in what that architecture should look
like.
As the delegations settle into Abu Dhabi, the central question remains: Can a security architecture be constructed that satisfies Russia’s demand while providing Ukraine with the ironclad guarantees it needs to survive?
💬 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov: The first item on the agenda in Abu Dhabi is the security of Russia, Ukraine and the region as a whole. ❗️ No organisation in the Euro-Atlantic area has the right to claim military and political dominance.https://t.co/C5inD1xwXd pic.twitter.com/gHjo5i6BLR
