Ukraine, US and Russia open trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on ceasefire and security guarantees
Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the United States and Russia on ending the war began in Abu Dhabi on 10 November and were scheduled to run through 11 November. Before the main session, Ukraine, the US and European partners held separate coordination meetings on ceasefire terms, postwar security guarantees and the future European security architecture. No concrete agreements were reported.
Key points
- Trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia talks began in Abu Dhabi on 10 November and were scheduled for 10-11 November.
- Ukraine's delegation is headed by Rustem Umerov and includes Kyrylo Budanov, Serhii Kyslytsia, Vadym Skibitskyi and Davyd Arakhamia.
- The US is represented by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff; Russia's delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky.
- European security advisers and NATO, European Commission and European Council officials took part in separate coordination meetings.
- Russia opposed direct European participation in the main talks, while the US wants Europe included in the next round.
- Ukraine's priorities are ending hostilities, reliable postwar guarantees, economic recovery and humanitarian steps.
- No concrete agreements were reported, and realistic outcomes mentioned include prisoner exchanges and local ceasefires.
Why it matters
The talks were the first trilateral meeting of this kind since February 2026 and sought to halt the fighting while outlining a postwar security system. They connect Ukraine's demand for an immediate end to hostilities and durable guarantees with disputes over territorial control, military strength, neutrality and European security. Their significance also lies in the disagreement over Europe's role: Moscow excludes European participants from the main room, while Washington and European governments favour broader talks.
What happened
On 10 November in Abu Dhabi, representatives of Ukraine, the United States and Russia began negotiations on ending the war, scheduled to continue through 11 November. Ukraine's team is led by Rustem Umerov, while Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff represent the US and Vladimir Medinsky leads the Russian delegation. Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Alexander Zhigarlovsky joined the Russian team for the first time in this format.
Before the main session, Ukraine held a separate coordination meeting with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission, joined by Kushner and Witkoff. Participants said future agreements must respect Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to decide independently, while providing reliable security guarantees. They discussed strengthening European security institutions, managing risks and preventing dangerous escalation, and reaffirmed that a strong NATO would remain central to Euro-Atlantic collective defence.
The first round focused on security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe, Russian demands for its own guarantees, and Ukraine's postwar future. The second day was expected to address territorial questions. No concrete agreements were reported.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage centres on stopping the fighting, securing reliable postwar guarantees, protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, supporting economic recovery and taking humanitarian steps. Ukrainian officials reject exchanging control of the Donbas for security guarantees and question whether the United States would honour any commitments. The coverage also stresses that no concrete deals were reached and that realistic results could be limited to prisoner exchanges and local ceasefires.
How international sources describe it
International coverage focuses on the United States' mediation role, the push to bring European participants into the process and the proposed postwar European security architecture. It examines potential territorial compromises, NATO-like guarantees, energy-market considerations and doubts about the durability of US commitments. Separate European coordination meetings are distinguished from the main trilateral session because Russia opposed direct European participation.
Where reporting differs
Ukraine and Europe require a ceasefire before negotiations on the future European security architecture, whereas the United States rejects that condition. Russia excluded Europeans from the main negotiating room at its insistence, while the US wants them involved in the next round. American negotiators proposed redrawing administrative boundaries in Donetsk and Luhansk so Russia could claim full control without taking Ukrainian-held cities, but this remained an option rather than an agreement. The US also proposed restoring Russian access to European energy markets, a move rejected by Ukraine and its European partners. Ukrainian representatives doubted a breakthrough was possible in the first meeting but expressed hope for the second round.
Background
Ukraine's delegation includes Umerov, Budanov, Kyslytsia, Skibitskyi and Arakhamia. European participants included national security advisers from France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, plus officials from NATO, the European Commission and the European Council. Ukraine and Europe wanted a ceasefire before talks on the future European security architecture, while Washington did not accept that prerequisite. Russia continued to demand Ukrainian neutrality, a smaller army and the absence of an international contingent. Ukraine sought at least ten years of support and a postwar army of 800,000 personnel.