A new round of trilateral talks among Russia, the United States and Ukraine was held on November 10 in Abu Dhabi to explore ways toward a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. The first day’s session lasted nearly four hours. Differences on core issues, including territory and security guarantees, remained unresolved. The US side sought to link a restructuring of the pan-European security architecture to a ceasefire—an approach Russia welcomed, while several European countries and Ukraine expressed unease. Russia and Ukraine continued striking each other.
The meeting was the first face-to-face high-level contact since talks in Geneva stalled in February 2026. US efforts to bundle longer-term European security arrangements with ceasefire negotiations touch both Ukraine’s postwar security model and broader European defense lines.
Several pressures form the background. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party lost ground in the midterm elections, and Democrats are due to take control of Congress in January 2027; US envoys including Kushner could face investigations. Russia is under wartime economic pressure. Ukraine faces strikes on energy infrastructure, winter heating strain and the consumption of air-defense resources.
Before the main talks, the Ukrainian delegation consulted representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission and issued a joint statement that any arrangement must respect sovereignty, territorial integrity and independent decision-making.
On November 10, US presidential envoys Kushner and Witkoff hosted roughly four hours of closed-door talks in Abu Dhabi with Russia’s chief representative and presidential aide Medinsky and Ukrainian delegation head and foreign intelligence chief Umerov. Secretary of State Rubio and President Zelenskyy did not attend.
Trump has said he is preparing a major agreement on European security whose scope would extend well beyond Ukraine. Kushner said the United States wants to “establish a new security framework” among Ukraine, Russia and Europe to secure “decades or even centuries of peace.” According to the Washington Post, Kushner is considering the post-Cold War NATO-Russia Council as a reference for future arrangements and for restoring security dialogue between Russia and the West. Witkoff and Kushner favor discussing ceasefire terms and long-term European security together.
European governments worry that a US-Russia understanding reached around them could give Russia a say in reshaping influence in Eastern Europe and weaken the post-Cold War security order.
Participants differ on sequencing. Rubio called the talks “very productive” but said patience is needed, much work remains, and this is “not something that can be solved within 24 hours.” Foreign Minister Lavrov said it is “very wise” to set clear parameters for a future security architecture first and only then address the Russia-Ukraine conflict itself. Zelenskyy was reserved about a new security architecture, saying: “We are all very cautious about this issue, because no one is really one hundred percent clear about what they want. Everyone is willing to talk. First, stop the war in Ukraine. Second, guarantee Ukraine’s security. Third, perhaps open a dialogue on European and even global security.” European Commission President von der Leyen said meaningful discussion of a European security architecture can take place only after a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Fighting continued. Ukraine’s air force said Russian forces launched 162 drones and one ballistic missile on the night of November 10 local time. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it downed 155 Ukrainian drones across eight Russian regions and Crimea.
The central deadlock is unchanged. Russia demands that Ukraine fully withdraw from the four regions Moscow said it annexed in 2022 and drop any NATO bid. Ukraine refuses to cede territory. Zelenskyy has questioned whether giving up the Donbas would bring real peace and has said Russia could return within a few years.
European officials remain wary of changes to the existing security setup. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said existing international agreements already cover sovereignty and territorial integrity; the problem is that Russia has not complied.
Talks were scheduled to continue on November 11 on security guarantees and unresolved details. Open questions include whether European partners will formally join the table, as Rubio has suggested, and whether a broader US-Russia-Europe-Ukraine format emerges. In the United States, ideas that Ukraine might have to cede territory or accept map changes face potential resistance and aid debates after Democrats take Congress.
Original article: https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_34450539
