Kushner, Witkoff mediate Ukraine-Russia ‘peace’ talks in Abu Dhabi

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators commenced a two-day US-mediated peace dialogue in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, aiming to bring an end to the ongoing conflict. The Ukrainian chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, emphasized that the objective of these fresh deliberations was to secure a durable peace, while the Russian chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, underscored the necessity of halting the war for the wellbeing of both Ukrainian and Russian populations.

The previous trilateral meeting convened in Geneva in February, following two earlier sessions in Abu Dhabi. US President Donald Trump had previously expressed optimism about a forthcoming "big, beautiful deal," although experts anticipate limited progress from this round of negotiations. The United States is represented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Trump. During the talks, Kushner indicated that tensions were high but hoped for constructive discussions.

Many of the proposed ideas have been previously developed by the US in collaboration with European nations and Ukraine, as Kushner disclosed. He also mentioned that Washington has engaged in constructive dialogues with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in recent months. US General Alexus Grynkewich, serving as a military expert alongside his NATO role, highlighted notable achievements attained through the trilateral format in the past. He further stated that efforts are underway to establish a framework for a lasting peace.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov disclosed on Tuesday in Moscow that the negotiations, initiated by the US, would concentrate on essential components of a regional security framework. This security accord for Ukraine and Russia is intended to be implemented following a "complete and comprehensive resolution" of the conflict.

Lavrov stated that Russia had prepared a position paper on the desired future security architecture in the Eurasian region. He expressed hope that the US would demonstrate sufficient resolve to accommodate the interests of both sides.

In preparation for the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, Western allies convened initially with the Ukrainian negotiating team. This included representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission, as per a Telegram post by Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service and chief negotiator.

Both Kushner and Witkoff participated in these preliminary discussions. Coordination with all significant partners is deemed crucial by Ukraine, Umerov stated in a Telegram post. The nation's top priorities are the cessation of hostilities, dependable post-war security guarantees, the economic recovery and development of Ukraine, and humanitarian measures.

Despite Ukraine's four-and-a-half-year defense against Russia’s full-scale invasion, mediated negotiations by the US have not yielded a breakthrough. Nonetheless, the opposing parties have previously agreed on several humanitarian matters, such as prisoner exchanges and the remains of soldiers.