New Trilateral Peace Talks on Ukraine War Begin in Abu Dhabi

A new round of trilateral talks regarding the ongoing war is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday. Representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are gathering for these discussions, arriving months after a series of US-mediated peace talks in January and February yielded no major breakthroughs.

When announcing the upcoming sessions, US special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the discussions would focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace. Witkoff is joined by Jared Kushner, special envoy and son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the Kremlin dispatched Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, as its chief negotiator, accompanied by high-ranking military and intelligence officials. The Ukrainian delegation is led by Rustem Umerov, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, alongside lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia and other officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined several key topics for his side, including security guarantees, an energy ceasefire, unblocking the Black Sea, extended prisoner exchanges, and preparations for a high-level leaders' meeting involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. However, expectations for a quick resolution remain low. Arakhamia told DW that a major breakthrough is unlikely following the long break in negotiations, though he considers the mere resumption of trilateral talks a success.

The resumption of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi marks a new attempt to address post-war security arrangements.

Separate formats are planned involving various European representatives, including officials from Germany, France, the UK, Italy, the European Commission, and NATO. However, experts like Hanna Shelest from the Ukrainian Prism network suggest European officials will likely hold only an observing role, noting that Moscow has historically preferred to frame negotiations as a matter between two superpowers.

Understanding the Abu Dhabi Meeting

While US President Donald Trump recently spoke of a potential comprehensive agreement involving Europe, analysts remain cautious. Some experts point out that negotiating with officials who may not be final decision-makers could limit the immediate practical outcomes of the meeting.

Why it matters

These diplomatic efforts directly impact regional stability and international security frameworks in Europe. While concrete peace outcomes remain uncertain, the discussions could influence future humanitarian pauses and prisoner exchanges, affecting civilians in conflict zones.