United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (center) with American mediators and the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Altaf Qadri/AP/TT
The tripartite talks on peace in Ukraine, held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, have concluded for the day.
Ahead of the meeting, U.S. envoy Jared Kushner stated that the goal—beyond peace—is to establish a new security framework for Europe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that he is unwilling to cede territory to Russia.
The talks, taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, involve Ukraine and Russia, with the United States acting as a mediator.
On Tuesday, the delegations from Ukraine and the United States held separate meetings with representatives from Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the EU, and NATO. According to Ukraine's chief negotiator—intelligence official Rustem Umerov—the purpose was to "coordinate and align" ahead of the primary negotiations with Russia.
"The participants emphasized that any future agreements must respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independent decision-making, while also providing credible security guarantees for Ukraine," the participants stated in a joint declaration.
The tripartite talks subsequently began at 09:30 Swedish time.
Unwilling to cede territory
Jared Kushner—President Donald Trump's son-in-law, who is representing the United States alongside Steve Witkoff—stated earlier on Tuesday that the hope is to discuss not only peace, but also "how we can create the right security relationships between Ukraine, Russia, and Europe," reports the news agency AFP:
"So that we don't just end this war, but also create a new framework to secure decades—if not centuries—of peace."
In an interview with the Danish broadcaster DR, Volodymyr Zelenskyy explains that Ukraine wants to reclaim the territory currently occupied by Russia.
"No, I will not give up the Donbas," he says, referring to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, which are largely controlled by Russian forces.
Zelenskyy argues that Russian President Vladimir Putin would view such a concession—ceding the occupied territories to Russia—as an invitation.
"I know he would move in immediately and occupy us," he tells DR.
A greater role for Europe
Last Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated in an interview with CBS News that he believes a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia "will happen," though he noted that it would likely result in Ukraine taking on "a slightly different form."
In the same interview with DR , Zelenskyy also expresses a desire for Europe to play a larger role in the negotiations:
"It is completely inconceivable that this war could be brought to an end—and that security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe could be discussed—without Europe being involved."
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