Even as modest progress was made in Abu Dhabi talks between Russia and Ukraine, it is too early say that the negotiations were moving towards end of the war.
Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, acknowledged that major differences remained despite the discussions. Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov during the talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10, 2026.
"Over these two days, the parties were able to state their positions directly, and significant differences remain between them," he said.
Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Zelenskyy's presidential administration, described the talks as tough, but insisted that Ukraine's position had not changed. Kyiv wants an end to the war and security arrangements that would rule out a renewed Russian aggression.
The four-point basic problems in positioning remain:
* Europe cannot accept Russian control over European security.
** The US has no sound strategic reason to facilitate Solution.
Russia offered little indication of flexibility on the most contentious issues. Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said territorial exchanges as part of a settlement were out of question.
Zelenskyy also disclosed that the Russian delegation rejected Ukraine's proposal for an energy cease-fire, saying it had no mandate to discuss the issue.
After fading into the background when the war with Iran began, the US diplomatic push to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine had intensified again. The first US-Ukraine-Russia talks since February were held in Abu Dhabi on Non 10 and 11.
President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022, and he could halt the fighting, at least, by agreeing to something Kyiv and the West have called for: a cease-fire that would leave the front lines in place.
Senior US officials said that the agreement on a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war represented a success. One American negotiator also reported detecting "a little bit of flexibility" from both sides in private conversations, although no details were provided.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner -- President Donald Trump's son-in-law --- are due to travel to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before heading to Dublin for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who is currently on a visit to Ireland.
Davyd Arakhamia from Ukraine's negotiating team said that this round of talks - the first since February - "was one of the hardest."
"I believe the Russians came with very strict directives, so it was extremely difficult to soften the discussion," he said. But he added that he felt "good momentum" and urged for a second round of talks to be organised as soon as possible.
Comments by Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky were less conciliatory.
"Right now... a lot depends on Ukraine, on the position of the US, and on whether Europe comes to its senses," he said.
ends
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