Ukraine, US, Russia Talks in Abu Dhabi to Focus on Security Guarantees, Not Ceasefire

Trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Abu Dhabi this week will not address a ceasefire, instead focusing on future security guarantees to prevent the war from resuming. The negotiations resume after a nine-month pause. The US-led process stalled over Russia's demands for about 2,000 square miles of Ukrainian territory its forces failed to capture militarily. Negotiators will shift from territorial claims to broader European security architecture, exploring whether giving Moscow a role in a postwar regional system could soften its position. Analysts cited by The New York Times expect no breakthrough before spring, as Russia assesses its winter bombing campaign. Some see potential for local ceasefire agreements, while former US Ambassador William Taylor noted no signs Moscow is softening its demands.