Abu Dhabi Talks: Putin's Traps and What Comes Next

Negotiations in Abu Dhabi on Ukraine have expanded beyond a ceasefire to discussions of a broader European security architecture, a shift initiated by Russia and acknowledged by US negotiators. Key disagreements remain over territorial concessions and the role of European partners in any peace process. Russian negotiators insist on first agreeing on future security guarantees and territorial issues before any ceasefire, while refusing to engage directly with European Union representatives. US officials, including Jared Kushner, ultimately conceded that bilateral issues and territories must be resolved first, though experts warn against approaching negotiations with Russia through a business-oriented lens. Experts highlight unresolved questions about who would patrol any future ceasefire line, suggesting only European NATO forces have the necessary capability. Reports of a US proposal to redraw Donbas administrative borders were not discussed in Abu Dhabi, and both Ukraine and Russia remain far apart on territorial demands, with no breakthrough expected before spring 2027.