Abu Dhabi Talks End Day One With Cautious Optimism, but Russia and Ukraine Still Disagree on the Order of Business

After nine months without direct contact, delegations from Moscow and Kyiv spent Tuesday in the UAE with American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the room. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the session very productive but offered no specifics. Kushner said the discussions were encouraging and that Washington wants security arrangements for a sovereign Ukraine and lasting peace in Europe. Zelenskiy described the talks as constructive and substantive, covering humanitarian and security topics, with prisoner releases named as a priority. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov held back judgment until a second day on Wednesday.

Security Guarantees and the Fight Over Sequencing

The sides disagree on what should come first. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wants a broad European security framework settled before the war itself is addressed, and he rejects a ceasefire, which he says would only give Ukraine breathing space. Zelenskiy is wary, saying nobody fully understands what Moscow wants, and he puts ending the war first, guarantees for Ukraine second, and wider security talks last. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said such talks should follow a ceasefire. Russia also still demands neutrality for Ukraine and no NATO membership, and there is no public sign Putin will drop his call for all of Donbas.

Europe Pushes for a Seat as Pressure Builds

Russia sees no place for Europeans at the table, while France insists lasting peace requires them. Rubio said Washington hopes to widen the talks to include Europe eventually. Trump has warned Kyiv to end the war or face something very bad, though his earlier predictions of a breakthrough have not come true.

Strikes Continue During Diplomacy

Russia keeps hitting Ukrainian cities and energy sites, and Ukraine is targeting Russian refineries. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Rubio to speed up interceptor deliveries, saying peace efforts should run alongside continued pressure on Moscow.