ABU DHABI, November 10, 2026 — Russian and Ukrainian officials have begun their first US-brokered peace negotiations since February, as President Donald Trump’s administration makes a renewed effort to end the war and address the wider security tensions shaping Europe.
The two-day discussions in Abu Dhabi bring together delegations from Moscow and Kyiv, with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff leading Washington’s mediation effort. The renewed diplomatic push follows weeks of contacts with both sides, which US officials say have helped narrow some differences.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the opening meeting as productive but did not disclose detailed outcomes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said humanitarian questions had been discussed and that security guarantees for Ukraine remained on the agenda.
Washington Sees An Opening For Progress
Addressing delegates at the start of the talks, Kushner said the United States believed it had ideas that could help bridge the remaining gaps. He said Trump had asked his representatives to intensify efforts to find a solution that would end the fighting while leaving both countries in a stronger position.
The administration is attempting to connect negotiations over the war with a wider discussion about Europe’s future security arrangements. A US proposal for a broader framework involving Russia and European countries has become one of the central issues surrounding the diplomatic effort.
According to Reuters’ report on the opening of the talks, Russia views a new European security framework as a major part of the discussions, while Ukraine is prioritising an end to hostilities, dependable security guarantees and the country’s recovery.
Territory Remains The Biggest Obstacle
Despite Washington’s optimism, the positions of Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on the most difficult questions. Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine surrender the entire eastern Donbas region, while Kyiv has repeatedly rejected giving up territory defended by its forces.
US officials have suggested that both sides may be showing some private flexibility over possible territorial arrangements. However, a senior Ukrainian official has strongly denied that Kyiv is prepared to accept territorial concessions as part of a settlement. Ukraine’s position is that any discussion of territory must be considered alongside credible security guarantees.
Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. The Kremlin’s demands also include restrictions on Ukraine’s future military and security alignment, particularly its relationship with NATO. Kyiv, meanwhile, wants guarantees strong enough to deter another invasion after any ceasefire or peace agreement.
Europe Wants A Place At The Negotiating Table
The proposed security framework has raised questions about Europe’s role in negotiations that could shape the continent’s future. European officials have argued that no lasting settlement can be reached without their involvement, particularly because any new security arrangement would directly affect European countries.
Representatives from France, Germany, Britain, the European Union and NATO have been involved in separate consultations around the Abu Dhabi meeting. Ukraine’s delegation also held discussions with European representatives and the US envoys ahead of the main negotiations.
Russia, however, has indicated that it does not expect direct talks with European officials as part of the trilateral format involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington. A Washington Post report said the broader European security proposal is a significant feature of the US approach, while also highlighting concerns that Europe could be left out of decisions affecting its own security.
War Continues As Diplomacy Resumes
The negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of continuing attacks. Reuters reported that Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure had killed two people and caused power outages, while Ukrainian drone operations have affected Russian oil-refining capacity.
The persistence of attacks underscores the difficulty of translating diplomatic contacts into an immediate ceasefire. The conflict has caused extensive destruction, displaced millions of people and placed sustained pressure on energy infrastructure and public services.
In a separate report ahead of the meeting, Reuters reported that a US official believed both sides were showing some flexibility privately, while warning that a territorial agreement would likely come only after other issues, including security arrangements, had been addressed.
What Happens Next?
The Abu Dhabi talks are scheduled to continue for a second day. The immediate test for negotiators will be whether they can identify areas of agreement on humanitarian measures, security guarantees, de-escalation and the framework for further negotiations.
Earlier, US envoy Steve Witkoff said the agenda would include post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and efforts to end the conflict. Details of that planned agenda were reported by Reuters in its November 2 briefing on the planned Abu Dhabi meeting.
For now, the resumption of direct talks represents a significant diplomatic development after a nine-month pause, but it does not yet signal that a peace agreement is close. The central questions of territory, Ukraine’s future security and Europe’s place in a post-war order remain unresolved.
Further progress will depend on whether the parties can move beyond their public positions and agree on practical steps that can stop the fighting while providing a durable basis for peace.
Additional coverage: The Guardian’s report on the US push for a final end to the war; Reuters’ expanded account of the nine-month break in talks.