Fresh diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war have resumed in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with representatives of the United States, Ukraine and Russia returning to the negotiating table for the first time since February.
The renewed discussions, taking place on Tuesday, November 10, come as US President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies efforts to secure an agreement that could bring an end to the nearly five-year conflict.
The American delegation is being led by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Ukraine is represented by its lead negotiator and foreign intelligence chief, Rustem Umerov, while Russia has sent senior diplomatic, military and Kremlin officials.
Although Moscow insists that the negotiations should remain strictly between Russia and Ukraine, with Washington serving as mediator, several European countries, alongside NATO and European Union representatives, are also holding separate discussions in Abu Dhabi.
The involvement of European officials reflects growing concerns that decisions concerning Ukraine’s future and Europe’s security should not be reached without their participation. France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom are among the countries seeking a stronger voice in the diplomatic process.
Speaking at the opening of the negotiations, Kushner said the discussions would focus not only on ending the fighting and addressing humanitarian concerns but also on establishing security arrangements that could prevent another conflict.
However, the possibility of a breakthrough remains uncertain. Russia continues to demand control over Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, restrictions on the size of Ukraine’s military and an end to Kyiv’s ambition to join NATO. These conditions have repeatedly been rejected by the Ukrainian government.
Previous rounds of negotiations have failed to produce meaningful progress, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that major political disagreements and possible compromises remain unresolved.
Meanwhile, the situation on the battlefield continues to worsen. Russian forces have intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, particularly electricity facilities, as winter approaches.
More than 2,700 civilians have reportedly been killed in Russian attacks this year, according to conflict-monitoring organisation ACLED. One of the deadliest recent incidents occurred in Zaporizhzhia, where at least 55 people were killed in a Russian bombing of a school building being used as a shelter and humanitarian centre.
Ukraine is also struggling with growing pressure on its air defence systems, as Russia deploys faster jet-powered drones and launches missile attacks against key infrastructure. Recent strikes reportedly left more than 600,000 residents in the Dnipropetrovsk region without electricity.
The negotiations are also taking place against the backdrop of changing relations between Washington and Kyiv. Unlike the previous administration of Joe Biden, Trump’s government has adopted a more complicated approach to supporting Ukraine, including halting financial assistance early in 2025.
Trump has also indicated that Ukraine may eventually have to surrender some territory to secure an agreement, a position Zelensky has consistently opposed.
With Democrats preparing to take control of Congress following the recent midterm elections, Zelensky has expressed hope that the party’s support for Ukraine could help strengthen American assistance.
Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether the political developments in Washington will significantly change Trump’s position or influence the outcome of the negotiations.
For now, the Abu Dhabi meeting represents another attempt to end the prolonged conflict, but deep disagreements over territory, military security and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO continue to stand in the way of a lasting peace agreement.
