Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for the first substantive peace talks since February. This two-day session, the fourth round of talks in 2026, aims to find a final end to the full-scale war that has lasted nearly five years. The diplomatic push resumes after a nine-month pause and follows joint US-Israel strikes against Iran and domestic midterm elections that have weakened President Donald Trump.
The discussions are focused on establishing future security guarantees for the warring nations. US officials are proposing a broader long-term security architecture for Europe, a move that echoes Kremlin talking points and has caused concern among some European officials and experts. In addition to security architecture, envoys are expected to discuss territorial issues and proposals for ceasefire monitoring.
While President Trump has suggested a broad peace deal is possible, Russia has shown few signs of willingness to compromise. Ukraine's top negotiator, Umerov, stated that Kyiv's priority remains securing a ceasefire, though other reports suggest a ceasefire will not be on the table. These negotiations follow a previous localized truce around the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky that allowed for humanitarian supplies and resident evacuations.
The US administration is working to persuade Moscow to include key European officials in these broader negotiations. European powers are sending officials to Abu Dhabi as leaders press for a role in discussions that could reshape the continent's security.