Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. hold Abu Dhabi peace talks at a pivotal moment in the war
Envoys from Ukraine and Russia met in Abu Dhabi with U.S. participation in what AP described as the first known instance of Trump administration officials sitting down with both countries in the same talks. The discussions come as territorial issues and security guarantees remain major sticking points.
Why these talks stand out
Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. representatives met in Abu Dhabi in a new round of peace discussions aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The talks are notable because they include U.S. participation alongside both parties — a significant step amid President Donald Trump’s push for visible progress toward ending the war, even as Russia continues to strike Ukraine and its energy infrastructure in the middle of winter.
The meeting follows an intense burst of diplomacy across multiple locations in recent days. AP reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Trump in Davos and that Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. envoys in the Kremlin, creating momentum that helped set the stage for the Abu Dhabi discussions.
Who’s at the table
According to AP, the U.S. delegation includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with additional participation from Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and NATO’s top general, U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich. Ukraine’s delegation includes senior national security and military figures, while Russia’s team is reported to be led by the head of military intelligence, Adm. Igor Kostyukov, along with other defense officials.
The talks are scheduled to continue through Saturday, and participants have described multiple formats for the discussions — sometimes meeting in a single group, sometimes splitting into smaller sessions depending on the topic being addressed.
Territory and security remain the hardest issues
AP said one major unresolved question is territory, including control of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. Kyiv has sought stronger security guarantees from the West, while Moscow has insisted Ukraine withdraw from regions Russia claims to have annexed but does not fully control. Those positions have long been at the center of why negotiations repeatedly stall.
Even with Zelenskyy suggesting a potential peace deal is “nearly ready,” the practical meaning of concessions — and how any agreement would be enforced — remains unclear. The Abu Dhabi talks therefore represent both a diplomatic opening and a test of whether the parties can bridge gaps that have persisted for years.