Trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the war in Ukraine have concluded after two days of discussions. The talks involved representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Although the American delegation reported seeing some openings for progress, no significant breakthroughs were achieved to halt the nearly five-year conflict.
Harsh Negotiations and Prisoner Exchange
Davyd Arakhamia, a member of Ukraine’s negotiating team, described the latest round of discussions as one of the most difficult since February. He noted that Russian delegates arrived with strict directives, making it challenging to soften the tone of the dialogue. Despite the friction, Arakhamia expressed a sense of good momentum and urged for a second round of talks to be organized as soon as possible.
Both Moscow and Kyiv confirmed that a large-scale prisoner of war exchange is currently being arranged. This humanitarian measure is expected to take place in the near future, offering a tangible outcome from the diplomatic efforts.
Following the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi session, US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, are scheduled to travel to Moscow and Dublin. Their itinerary includes meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to continue the dialogue.
Disagreements on Security Architecture
The central theme of these negotiations was the post-war security architecture of Europe. For Kyiv, the primary concern involves securing guarantees that allies will provide assistance if Ukraine faces future aggression, despite the country not being a member of NATO. Moscow, conversely, seeks to limit the influence of NATO in Eastern Europe, a stance driven by long-standing concerns over the alliance’s eastward expansion.
Kushner stated earlier this week that the US hopes to establish a new security framework involving Ukraine, Russia and Europe to secure lasting peace. Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky echoed the need for a new and fair security system. However, significant gaps remain regarding the conditions for such an agreement.
European representatives from Britain, NATO and various EU countries were present in Abu Dhabi. They met with US and Ukrainian negotiators but had no contact with the Russian delegation, as the EU does not officially communicate with Moscow. Many European nations, particularly in Eastern Europe, argue that their security is inextricably linked to Ukraine’s and that any agreement requires consensus among NATO members.
A key point of contention is the timing of a ceasefire. European and Ukrainian officials prefer a ceasefire before discussing a future security framework, while the Kremlin insists that fighting should only stop after a comprehensive agreement is reached. Kushner acknowledged that any peacetime security framework is contingent on the war ending, which cannot happen until there is an agreement on territory and other bilateral issues.
The region of Donetsk remains a core obstacle. Moscow demands that Ukraine relinquish control of the parts of Donetsk it still holds, while Kyiv seeks to freeze the contact line to maintain its presence. Kushner admitted that this issue was the hardest to navigate, citing a lack of trust between the sides after years of conflict.
Source: BBC
