The key facts

  • The second day of talks in Abu Dhabi began on November 11; the first day lasted about 4.5 hours
  • Zelensky called the talks 'constructive and substantive,' highlighting the topic of security guarantees
  • After the trilateral meetings, a separate meeting with European representatives is scheduled

Talks Resume in Abu Dhabi

A new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the United States, resumed in the capital of the UAE on Wednesday. Russian media, including the state agency TASS, reported the start of the second day of trilateral meetings, citing sources. According to these reports, the first day of talks took a total of about 4.5 hours. According to TASS, the Russian delegation plans to make a statement to the press in the afternoon after the conclusion of the trilateral meetings.

Composition of the Delegations and Assessment of the First Day

The Russian delegation is led by presidential envoy Vladimir Medinsky; it also includes Deputy Foreign Ministers Mikhail Galuzin and Sergei Ryabkov. After the first day of talks, Ryabkov told the outlet Vesti that it was premature to assess their results. The Ukrainian side is led by the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Rustem Umerov; the delegation also includes the head of the president's office, Kyrylo Budanov. The US is represented in the talks by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Umerov confirmed the resumption of the talks and said on Telegram that after the trilateral meetings, a separate meeting with European representatives would take place.

Reactions from the Parties

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday called the talks 'constructive and quite substantive.' According to him, security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed in detail, including mechanisms to ensure their long-term effectiveness. 'Real instruments are needed to block any repetition of the war. The need for de-escalation steps was also raised,' Zelensky wrote on X, adding that possible humanitarian measures were discussed, and he named the release of prisoners a priority. Kushner expressed optimism after the first day: 'We are encouraged by the constructive discussions,' emphasizing that the American negotiators are acting under the direct direction of the executive branch. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized Tuesday's meetings as 'quite productive' and told journalists in France that the goal of the diplomatic efforts is to develop long-term security mechanisms.

Context of the Round

The talks in Abu Dhabi are the first trilateral meetings since the round in Geneva in February; before that, in January and February, two rounds were also held in the capital of the UAE. This round was preceded by a meeting between the American and Ukrainian sides with the participation of representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission. No outcomes of the current round have been announced yet: the Russian side has stated outright that it is premature to assess the results, and a statement from the Russian delegation is expected only after the conclusion of the meetings.