In brief
Russian and Ukrainian delegations, led by Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov, arrived in Abu Dhabi for a two‑day trilateral meeting with the United States on November 10–11. The talks focus on potential security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5, a subject highlighted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. European representatives and NATO officials also attend as the parties seek a long‑term, sustainable peace and avenues for post‑war recovery.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations arrived in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on Monday for two days of talks with the United States aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis.
The Russian delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the head of state, while Ukraine’s delegation is led by Rustem Umerov, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
United Nations Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Paris, noted that Ukraine will only receive security guarantees if Russia consents, underscoring the centrality of the Abu Dhabi talks. He said, “I think the key to ultimately being able to end the war is an understanding that Ukraine will feel secure after the war, and obviously it has to be something that Russia agrees to as well in order for it to work.”
Rubio also indicated that a final plan for security guarantees has yet to be decided, but described the idea of guarantees akin to NATO’s Article 5 or Article 4 as under discussion.
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the negotiations will focus on security guarantees and reiterated that the format is trilateral, explaining that representatives of Europe would not be able to participate in the same manner.
Umerov announced on Telegram that the Ukrainian negotiating team was heading to the UAE, emphasising the goal of a “long‑term and sustainable peace, guaranteed security for Ukraine, and real opportunities for Ukraine's post‑war recovery.”
Umerov added that Ukraine plans to hold separate coordination meetings with European partners.
He further noted that the Ukrainian delegation will engage separately with officials from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, as well as representatives of NATO and the European Commission.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, highlighted humanitarian priorities during the talks. He said, “We need to intensify prisoner exchanges. I hope the dialogue in the UAE will deliver practical results and that we will be able to agree on the next steps to bring our people home.”
The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, marks the first trilateral gathering between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine since February. The diplomatic effort is part of a broader push to explore long‑term peace, post-war reconstruction, and security guarantees that could stabilize the region and address the concerns of citizens on both sides of the conflict.
The presence of European representatives points to a collaborative approach to ensure that any agreements are supported by key international partners and that the broader community can participate in the post‑war recovery process.
Overall, the talks signal a focused attempt to secure an agreement that balances Ukrainian security demands with Russian consent, while involving European stakeholders in shaping a durable resolution that places the well‑being of citizens and the integrity of national institutions at the centre of the negotiations.
