Russian-Ukrainian talks in Abu Dhabi; Washington seeks a security framework 'lasting decades'

Abu Dhabi (Agencies): Russia, Ukraine, and the United States began talks in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi yesterday regarding the war in Ukraine. US envoy Jared Kushner stated during the talks that the United States seeks to reach security agreements between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe that will last for decades. Kushner added that his country will work to provide a more stable security environment in Europe and create conditions that allow Ukraine to enjoy sovereignty and security. The talks take on special significance in light of US President Donald Trump’s comments about the impending end of the war and his reference to the possibility of a “minor change” in Ukraine’s borders, which has brought the issue of territory back to the forefront of settlement discussions. According to Reuters, the talks, mediated by the United States, are scheduled to continue on November 10 and 11, marking the first meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials since last February. The discussions will cover ways to end the war, security arrangements after a ceasefire, and de-escalation measures. A US official had previously told Reuters that both sides had shown a limited degree of unpublicized flexibility regarding territorial concessions, noting that Washington believes Moscow and Kyiv are entering negotiations in good faith, despite ongoing major disagreements. The United States, Ukraine, and their European partners emphasized in a joint statement issued after a coordination meeting in Abu Dhabi the necessity of respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independent decision-making in any peace agreement, alongside providing reliable security guarantees. Participants also stressed the importance of establishing risk management mechanisms to avoid escalation, pointing to continued coordination between the United States, Ukraine, and European partners throughout the negotiation process, with the aim of transitioning to broader multilateral discussions involving European parties. In this context, US envoy Steve Witkoff clarified in a post on the X platform that the discussions addressed establishing a security framework to enhance Ukraine’s long-term security, the future of the European security architecture after the war, and building upon existing security institutions and agreements, while reaffirming the pivotal role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the collective defense of the region. The files to be discussed are expected to include halting attacks on energy facilities and infrastructure, ensuring navigation security in the Black Sea, prisoner exchanges and humanitarian issues, as well as security guarantees for Ukraine and post-war arrangements.