Abu Dhabi hosts crucial new round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks

A fresh round of US-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine began in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, as Washington stepped up efforts to narrow differences between the two sides and find a way to end the conflict, now in its fifth year.

US envoy Jared Kushner, who is also President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, said Washington had identified the major outstanding disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv and was exploring possible ways to resolve them.

Speaking at the opening of the trilateral discussions, Kushner said US officials had maintained almost daily contact with both countries to understand their positions and determine where compromises could be reached.

He said Trump had directed his team to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure an agreement that would bring an end to the war while leaving both countries in a stronger position.

Kushner added that the US president remained deeply concerned about the prolonged conflict, particularly the mounting death toll and humanitarian consequences.

He also described an earlier meeting with Ukrainian representatives and European partners as productive, saying several proposals currently under consideration had emerged from their joint discussions.

According to Kushner, the negotiations are intended to go beyond ending hostilities and address the broader security arrangements involving Russia, Ukraine and Europe. He expressed hope that the diplomatic initiative would prevent another war in the region.

United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also attended the opening session, welcoming the delegations and expressing his country’s support for efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement. He praised Washington’s role in facilitating negotiations and thanked the participants for placing their confidence in the UAE.

Ukraine’s delegation is being led by Rustem Umerov, who said his team had received a mandate from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss all outstanding matters necessary to end the conflict.

Umerov said Kyiv was seeking a lasting peace agreement backed by credible security guarantees. He added that the Ukrainian delegation would focus on achieving tangible progress, with the agenda covering an end to fighting and a broader pathway towards peace.

Russia’s delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, who expressed hope that the expanded Russian team would help advance negotiations and produce progress towards a settlement.

The latest discussions mark the first trilateral negotiations since the previous round in Geneva in February. Earlier meetings between the three sides were also held in Abu Dhabi in January and February.

Ahead of the talks, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would present proposals aimed at reducing tensions and ending hostilities. He also stressed the importance of security guarantees and international assistance for the country’s post-war reconstruction.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said security guarantees would be among the central issues under discussion. He maintained that the negotiations would remain trilateral, involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States, rather than include European representatives directly.

However, Umerov said representatives from the European Commission, NATO, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany would also be present in Abu Dhabi for separate consultations.

Before the formal negotiations, the Ukrainian delegation also held discussions with European representatives and US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The renewed diplomatic effort comes amid continued fighting and growing international pressure to find a sustainable solution to the conflict.