Overview
- The United States is mediating talks in Abu Dhabi that began Tuesday with envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff meeting Russian and Ukrainian negotiators to discuss security guarantees and next steps toward ending the war.
- Moscow has insisted the talks remain strictly trilateral and rejects direct European participation, while U.S. envoys say they will hold separate consultations with EU and NATO officials to try to bring Europe into a broader settlement.
- The core negotiating gap remains territorial and security terms, with Russia demanding withdrawals from occupied regions and limits on NATO ties and Ukraine insisting on preserving its territorial integrity and a ceasefire before any concessions.
- Violence has continued during the talks, with Russia striking Ukrainian power infrastructure and Ukraine mounting long-range drone and missile attacks on Russian facilities including a major refinery.
- President Trump has pursued parallel diplomacy on Iran, telling Gulf mediators the Iran war is 'practically ended militarily' and saying he may meet Putin and Xi at APEC, a posture that deepens European caution about a U.S.-led deal and raises risks for civilians, winter repairs, and long-term reconstruction planning.