‘No concession’: What to expect from Russia-US-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi

What the report says

Officials from Ukraine, Russia and the United States are due to meet in Abu Dhabi this week for a new round of peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera. The meetings, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, come amid intensified strikes on energy infrastructure and continued disagreement over the core terms of any settlement. The report says the US delegation will be led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Ukraine’s team will be headed by foreign intelligence chief Rustem Umerov. Russia’s delegation is expected to be led by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky.

Al Jazeera reported that the main disputes remain territory and security guarantees. Ukraine wants Russian forces to withdraw and seeks assurances over its future security, while Moscow has resisted NATO membership for Ukraine and opposed any foreign troop presence after a deal. Analysts quoted by the outlet said they do not expect a breakthrough, arguing that the positions on both sides remain far apart and that Russia has shown little sign of compromise. The article also notes that European officials may be present in some form, although their role was unclear.

The stakes extend beyond Ukraine itself, the report says, because the outcome could affect wider European security and the future of other post-Soviet states. Al Jazeera also recalled that previous talks this year, including earlier meetings in Abu Dhabi, had not produced a major advance, and that the most promising early moment for diplomacy was in 2022 before the war hardened into a longer conflict.