U.S.-Brokered Peace Talks Begin in Abu Dhabi

Peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The meeting, brokered by the US, marks the first major diplomatic discussion since February. The two-day talks aim to restart efforts to end the ongoing war and establish security guarantees for lasting peace.

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, shared an update on X, saying that he and US envoy Steve Witkoff are working towards a negotiated solution. Their goal is to create lasting peace and help Ukraine remain a sovereign, secure, and prosperous country within Europe.

However, Russia and Ukraine have different positions on how to end the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its troops from four regions claimed by Russia: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. He has also called for Ukraine to abandon its NATO membership ambitions, limit its military strength, and remove restrictions related to the Russian language and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected these demands. He does not want Ukraine to surrender territories that Russian forces have not fully captured. He also insists on maintaining the country’s military capabilities and partnerships with Western nations to protect Ukraine against future attacks.

Ukraine believes that an immediate ceasefire should be the first step towards a wider peace agreement. It has also called for direct discussions between Putin and Zelenskyy to resolve disagreements over territorial issues.

Both countries have included senior officials who have taken part in earlier negotiations. Russia’s delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, while Ukraine’s team includes intelligence chief Rustem Umerov and other senior officials from Zelenskyy’s government.