US-brokered Ukraine-Russia peace talks resume in Abu Dhabi after nine-month pause

US-mediated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia resume today in Abu Dhabi, marking the first formal negotiations in nine months, with US officials expressing cautious optimism about progress toward ending the war. The two-day talks will include European partners, with Germany, France, the UK, Italy, NATO, and the EU participating in discussions on ceasefire monitoring and post-war security. US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may visit Moscow afterward, as both sides show flexibility on territorial issues. Washington proposes reactivating the NATO-Russia Council to facilitate communication and de-escalation, while seeking security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO Articles 4 and 5. Russia currently views Europe as the main obstacle to peace, which US mediators aim to address.