A fresh round of US-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine began Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, as Washington seeks to narrow differences between the two countries and find a possible solution to the ongoing conflict.
Russian state media, including the RIA news agency, reported that the trilateral negotiations officially began at 0800 GMT.
Addressing the meeting, US envoy Jared Kushner, who is also President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, said Washington had identified the major disagreements preventing progress between Moscow and Kyiv. He added that American officials had developed several proposals to help resolve these differences.
Kushner explained that US representatives had maintained almost daily communication with both sides and were now working to find common ground.
He said Trump had instructed his administration to intensify diplomatic efforts to end the war, which has entered its fifth year, while ensuring that both countries emerge from the process in a stronger position.
Kushner also emphasized Trump’s commitment to achieving peace, noting that the US president believed the conflict had continued for far too long. He said Trump remained deeply concerned about the growing death toll and the humanitarian consequences of the war.
The US envoy described his earlier discussions with Ukrainian representatives and European partners as highly productive, adding that several proposals currently under consideration had been developed through their joint efforts.
Focus on Lasting Peace and Regional Security
Kushner said an important question facing negotiators was whether Russia, Ukraine and European countries were genuinely prepared to pursue peace.
He explained that the discussions would extend beyond ending hostilities and restoring relations between Moscow and Kyiv. They would also explore the possibility of establishing a new regional security arrangement involving Russia, Ukraine and Europe.
Expressing hope for a lasting settlement, Kushner said he wanted the current conflict to become the final war of its kind in the region.
United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the participants and expressed his country’s desire to see the conflict resolved through peaceful negotiations. He also praised Washington’s contribution to diplomatic efforts and thanked the delegations for choosing the UAE to host the discussions.
Russian and Ukrainian Delegations Outline Their Positions
Ukraine’s negotiating team is being led by Rustem Umerov, who acknowledged the European Union’s contribution to preparing the discussions. He said diplomatic preparations had been underway for nearly a year, with particularly intensive efforts during the previous two months.
Umerov stated that his delegation had received instructions from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address all major concerns affecting the Ukrainian population and identify a way to end the war.
He stressed that Kyiv was seeking a durable peace agreement supported by reliable security guarantees. He added that Ukraine wanted to achieve concrete progress during the negotiations.
In a separate Telegram statement, Umerov said the agenda included major questions concerning a ceasefire and the broader process of reaching a peaceful settlement.
Meanwhile, Russian delegation leader Vladimir Medinsky expressed optimism that the expanded Russian negotiating team could help move discussions forward.
He said Moscow hoped the negotiations would produce meaningful progress towards peace while serving the interests of both Russian and Ukrainian populations.
First Trilateral Negotiations Since February
The latest meeting represents the first round of trilateral negotiations since discussions were held in Geneva, Switzerland, in February. Two earlier rounds had also taken place in Abu Dhabi during January and February.
Before the latest negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s delegation would present proposals aimed at reducing tensions. In a video address on Monday evening, he emphasized the importance of securing peace, obtaining international security guarantees and ensuring sufficient resources for Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said security guarantees would be among the central subjects of discussion. He also indicated that European representatives would not formally participate in the trilateral negotiations, which had originally been arranged between Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Peskov explained that Washington maintained separate diplomatic communication channels with European governments, while Ukraine also continued its direct engagement with European partners.
However, Umerov later confirmed that representatives from the European Commission, NATO, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany would travel to Abu Dhabi.
Separately, before the trilateral negotiations began, Umerov announced that he had held discussions with European representatives and US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as part of preparations for the diplomatic process.
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