[Abu Dhabi Set to Host Renewed Trilateral Ukraine Peace Talks; Experts Warn of Limited Progress]
A new round of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States is set to convene in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday. These discussions follow a series of US‑mediated peace initiatives in January and February that ultimately produced no substantive outcomes.
When announcing the new trilateral talks last week, US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that the meeting will address post‑war security arrangements, de‑escalation measures, humanitarian efforts, and forthcoming steps toward peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined his primary concerns, which include security guarantees, an energy ceasefire, the reopening of the Black Sea corridor, extended prisoner exchanges, and the anticipation of a summit featuring leaders from Ukraine, the US, and Russia.
Ukraine’s delegation member Davyd Arakhamia, speaking to DW, expressed skepticism about imminent breakthroughs.
“Arakhamia noted, ‘I do not anticipate a breakthrough given the extended hiatus in negotiations; however, the mere resumption of trilateral talks represents a significant step forward.’”
Who is sitting at the table?
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will be accompanied by Jared Kushner, a real‑estate developer and Trump’s son‑in‑law, who serves as the special envoy.
The Kremlin has deployed Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Putin, as its chief negotiator, accompanied by a delegation of senior Russian military and intelligence officials.
Ukraine’s delegation is headed by Rustem Umerov, director of the Directorate of State Intelligence, joined by Arakhamia and various diplomatic and military representatives.
Europe joins in
Additional European representatives will participate in separate sessions.
These include Günter Sautter, a foreign and security policy adviser to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Bonne, head of the Elysee Palace’s diplomatic service, Jonathan Powell, the UK’s national security advisor, and Fabrizio Saggio, Italy’s prime minister’s diplomatic adviser.
Björn Seibert, Chief of Staff to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Geoffrey van Leeuwen, Chief of Staff to NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, will also be present.
Oleshky truce as a template for wider ceasefire?
Late last week, President Trump referenced a potential “grand agreement” discussed with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, which could extend involvement to European parties.
Kushner elaborated that the proposed security framework would revolve around permanent security consultations, reliable crisis communication channels, increased military transparency, reciprocal risk‑reduction measures, and a sustainable architecture for long‑term European stability.
Shelest noted that these proposals do not introduce elements Russia has not previously discussed since 2009.
Ivan Us, an economic diplomacy expert at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, argued that talks involving non‑decision‑makers might resemble a pretense.
But he concurred that the newly convened Abu Dhabi talks may seek to emulate the Oleshky ceasefire to create model limited humanitarian pauses across the region.
Cautioning that military actions persisted throughout the Oleshky pause, Us warned that Russia intensified its fortifications around the town despite the temporary truce.
“This report originally appeared in Ukrainian.”