Kushner Joins Witkoff for High-Stakes Ukraine-Russia Talks in Abu Dhabi

Jared Kushner will join Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff in leading the American delegation to Abu Dhabi for the first trilateral peace negotiations with Ukraine and Russia since February. The talks are scheduled for 10 and 11 November, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. US officials told the BBC that both Moscow and Kyiv have privately signaled flexibility regarding control of Ukraine's eastern regions, even though neither capital has publicly conceded ground.

According to the BBC, a US official stated that a settlement on Donetsk and other territorial questions is linked to the security arrangements that will follow the conflict. The official argued that neither issue can be finalized separately. The proposed framework agreement includes consultations on security, channels for communication during crises, and measures for both sides to reduce tensions.

The security arrangements may carry different implications for the two belligerents. Ukraine could seek guarantees that allies would assist it if it faced another attack. Russia could pursue its longstanding aim of compelling NATO to withdraw from Eastern Europe, a move that would alarm European countries. Officials have also discussed restoring the NATO-Russia Council, whose work has been effectively suspended since 2022.

Washington intends to propose a broader negotiating format involving European countries, though a US official acknowledged Russian reluctance to engage with them. Representatives from the European Commission, European Council, Germany, France, and the UK are expected to attend the Abu Dhabi talks at the security adviser level. The NATO secretary general's chief of staff will also be present. Kushner and Witkoff are scheduled to meet with European representatives before the trilateral discussions begin.

The Ukrainian delegation will include Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umierov and Kyrylo Budanov, head of the President's Office. They will be joined by Serhii Kyslytsia, first deputy head of the President's Office; Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Defence Intelligence; and Davyd Arakhamiia, who leads the Servant of the People parliamentary faction. The Ukrainian side does not anticipate a breakthrough at the initial meeting but hopes the second round will deliver progress.

Following a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff on 9 November, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian troops were strengthening the country's position in negotiations. The US delegation aims to address the security concerns of both Ukraine and Russia after the war, according to Kushner.