US, Russia, Ukraine hold talks in Abu Dhabi on ending war

Negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine begin Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, with US, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives holding two days of direct trilateral talks for the first time in over eight months. The talks follow a preparatory meeting with security advisors from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission. Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umjerow leads his delegation, while US officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended, with the US acting as mediator. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinski expressed hope the meeting advances peace. Previous talks in Geneva in February 2026 and earlier sessions in Abu Dhabi ended without a political breakthrough, raising expectations for these new discussions.