Abu Dhabi Talks Conclude Without Peace Deal
Trilateral negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in Abu Dhabi concluded on November 11, 2026, after two days of intense discussion regarding the future security architecture of Europe. While the talks ended without a breakthrough in ending the nearly five-year-long conflict, both Moscow and Kyiv confirmed that a large-scale prisoner of war exchange is currently being prepared, according to BBC.
Davyd Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian negotiating team, described the sessions as “one of the hardest” due to the strict directives brought by the Russian delegation. Despite the lack of an immediate ceasefire agreement, Arakhamia noted a sense of “good momentum” and emphasized the necessity of scheduling a subsequent round of talks as soon as possible.
Security Architecture and Territorial Disputes
The core of the discussions centered on European security frameworks. For Kyiv, any agreement must include robust security guarantees from allies, even in the absence of NATO membership. Conversely, Moscow continues to press for limitations on NATO influence in Eastern Europe. The fundamental impasse remains the status of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, which is largely under Russian occupation. Moscow demands the relinquishment of remaining Ukrainian-held areas, while Kyiv seeks to freeze the contact line to preserve its current control.
Disagreements persist regarding the sequence of a potential peace deal. Ukraine and its European partners maintain that a ceasefire must precede negotiations on a long-term security framework. In contrast, the Kremlin insists that hostilities should only cease after a comprehensive agreement is reached. US negotiator Jared Kushner confirmed that while the US hopes to create a security framework to “secure lasting peace,” any such agreement is contingent upon the war ending, which remains impossible without a resolution on territorial and bilateral issues.
Upcoming Diplomatic Missions
Following the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi summit, US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to travel to Moscow on Thursday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They will subsequently travel to Dublin to hold discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. These missions aim to address the potential inclusion of European partners in the diplomatic format, a move the Kremlin has historically resisted. As Kushner noted, the current lack of trust between the warring parties remains a significant hurdle to any lasting settlement.