Ukraine peace talks resume in Abu Dhabi after months-long pause
US officials say Moscow and Kyiv are privately showing flexibility regarding control of eastern regions during trilateral discussions.
Senior officials from Moscow, Kyiv and Washington are meeting in Abu Dhabi for the first trilateral talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine since February, according to BBC News. The discussions occur as the fifth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion approaches.
US delegation members Jared Kushner and peace envoy Steve Witkoff said the talks will focus on addressing postwar security concerns for both Russia and Ukraine. Kushner stated on X that the process involves encouraging all parties to think seriously about what follows the war.
While public positions on the Donetsk region remain far apart, a US official suggested that Moscow and Kyiv have shown a little bit of flexibility privately. The official noted that territorial issues cannot be solved without discussing a new security architecture.
The proposed framework includes security consultations, crisis communication hotlines, and reciprocal de-escalation measures. Officials also suggested reactivating the Nato-Russia Council, which has been largely paused since 2022.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged on Monday that Nato allies and EU members be included in meaningful discussions about Europe's security architecture. The US official said the Americans would propose moving into a multilateral format to bring Europeans into the discussion.
The Moscow delegation includes Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky and deputy foreign ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin. Kyiv is sending officials including Foreign Intelligence Service head Rustem Umerov and chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov.
