Russia, US, and Ukraine Resume Peace Talks in Abu Dhabi After Nine-Month Hiatus
Trilateral negotiations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are underway in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, 2026, marking the first face-to-face talks since February. Delegations are discussing territorial control in Donetsk, a post-war security architecture, and the potential revival of the NATO-Russia Council, while European partners hold separate meetings with US negotiators.
Representatives from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine have gathered in Abu Dhabi for trilateral peace talks scheduled for November 10-11, 2026. The meetings represent the first substantive face-to-face negotiations since February 2026, ending a nine-month pause in direct dialogue. 
The US delegation is led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The Russian team is headed by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky and includes Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin. Ukraine's delegation is led by Foreign Intelligence Service Head Rustem Umerov and includes Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov.
A central point of contention remains the Donetsk region. Russia demands that Ukraine relinquish territory it currently holds there, while Kyiv seeks to freeze the existing contact line. Despite this disagreement, US officials state that Moscow and Kyiv are privately showing "a little bit of flexibility" regarding control of Ukraine's eastern regions.
Beyond territorial issues, the proposed framework includes establishing a new "long-term security architecture" between Russia and Europe. Discussions may involve the reactivation of the NATO-Russia Council. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated there have been some advances in defining what the security architecture should look like.
European leaders, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have urged inclusion in the diplomatic process. To address these concerns, delegations from Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and the European Union will meet US negotiators separately in Abu Dhabi to discuss the security architecture. 