Russian and Ukrainian officials have met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first U.S.-brokered talks since February, following President Donald Trump’s suggestion last week that a comprehensive accord to end the war in Ukraine and secure European stability is achievable.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner told delegates that recent discussions with both delegations had successfully narrowed the gaps, affirming Trump’s commitment to securing peace.
“He really has asked us to put extra effort into trying to find a solution that hopefully ends the war but also leaves both sides in a much stronger position to start pursuing the full potential of what their two amazing countries have the ability to reach,” Kushner said at the ​start of the meeting.
However, more than four and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion—with Russian troops occupying approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory—Moscow and Kyiv remain widely divided on the fundamental terms for a settlement, despite Trump’s optimism.
Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s chief negotiator, emphasized in his remarks that Kyiv remains fully dedicated to securing robust security guarantees and a lasting peace.
Head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky expressed Moscow’s hope that peace negotiations will progress for the benefit of citizens in both countries.
Backstory…
The latest peace talks follow several failed attempts by the United States and other international mediators to end the Russia and Ukraine war, which began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Previous negotiations have repeatedly stalled over territorial disputes, security guarantees and Russia’s demands that Ukraine surrender control of the entire Donbas region.
The last US-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine took place in February 2026 in Geneva but ended without a major breakthrough. Diplomatic efforts subsequently lost momentum as Washington became increasingly focused on the US-Iran conflict.
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