Ukrainian-Russian Talks in Abu Dhabi: Washington Calls for a New Security Framework Encompassing Europe

Direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations under US mediation kicked off on Tuesday, November 10, in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, in a step aimed at making progress toward resolving the conflict and building a new security framework encompassing the entire European continent, according to Washington.

These meetings, whose first day concluded after a discussion session lasting nearly four hours, are the first of their kind since February, bringing both parties face-to-face in the presence of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with discussions scheduled to resume on Wednesday morning.

Cautious Welcome and a Large-Scale Prisoner Exchange Proposal

Following a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in the French capital, Paris, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described these talks as "highly productive," emphasizing that the US objective is to expand this diplomatic framework to include Europeans at a later stage, especially amid the decline of communication channels between European leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2022.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during his visit to Denmark, praised the "constructive" atmosphere of the talks, noting that humanitarian issues and security guarantees formed the core of the discussions. Zelenskyy also revealed a proposal for a major prisoner exchange deal that could involve between 1,000 and 1,500 prisoners from each side, an issue that US envoys will convey during their upcoming visit to Russia.

A New Security Vision Encompassing the European Continent

Regarding diplomatic developments in France, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha welcomed the efforts made in Abu Dhabi to reach new partial truces that pave the way for de-escalation.

US envoy Jared Kushner called for establishing a new security framework not limited to Ukraine and Russia alone, but extending across all of Europe to ensure prolonged periods of stability and peace—an approach that resonated with the Russian delegation, which viewed ending the war as part of a broader trajectory to reshape the continent's security architecture.

Western Adherence to Ukrainian Sovereignty

Although Washington and European nations have shown support for crafting a post-war security structure, a joint statement underscored that there would be no compromise on respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, amid European concerns over deals being struck independently of Kyiv and its allies.

The Ukrainian delegation in the negotiations is led by Rustem Umerov, while the Russian delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, with the participation of General Alexus Grynkewich, the top US military commander in Europe. The Ukrainian team had previously coordinated its positions with representatives from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and NATO to ensure diplomatic unity.