Europe and Russia: From Threats to Dialogue After Abu Dhabi Talks

Germany and the UK are open to resuming direct contacts with Moscow, while the US prepares new talks with Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leaders following negotiations in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi talks yielded a prisoner exchange agreement and some progress, but territorial disputes and Europe's future security architecture remain unresolved. Russia's negotiator Vladimir Medinski expressed cautious optimism, while US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan further meetings with Putin and Zelensky. Moscow prefers direct negotiations with Washington and dismissed European peace initiatives as nonexistent. European governments seek involvement in decisions shaping continental security, while Russia rules out territorial concessions, describing occupied areas as an expanding "security zone."