Peace talks on Ukraine resume in Abu Dhabi after nine-month pause

Peace talks to end the war in Ukraine will resume Tuesday in Abu Dhabi after a nine-month pause, with the United States, Ukraine, and Russia focusing on postwar security guarantees rather than territorial disputes. The talks, led by White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aim to address broader European security issues to break a stalemate over Russian demands for about 2,000 square miles of territory it has not captured. Ukraine has offered an unconditional cease-fire, while Russia insists on control of roughly 20 percent of the Donetsk region. Analysts expect no major breakthrough until spring, as both sides escalate bombardments, including Russian strikes that cut power for 600,000 Ukrainians. European officials, excluded from the talks, demand participation in any agreement, while some Ukrainian lawmakers view the approach as a potential concession to Russia.