Abu Dhabi Talks Over With No Russia-Ukraine Truce Deal In Sight
US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine ended in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (November 11) without a breakthrough towards ending the nearly five-year war. However, the two sides agreed to a major prisoner exchange, offering a limited humanitarian breakthrough amid continuing disagreements over territory, security guarantees and Europe's role.
The second day of discussions lasted around two hours. The negotiations brought Russian, Ukrainian and US representatives together for the first trilateral discussions since February. US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner participated in the diplomatic efforts alongside the delegations led by Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky and Ukraine's Rustem Umerov.
Kushner said the sides had agreed to what could become their biggest humanitarian release of prisoners, with final numbers expected to be determined on Thursday. Zelenskyy had earlier indicated that discussions included a possible exchange involving 1,000 prisoners from each side, potentially increasing to 1,500. The return of Ukrainian civilians and children held in Russia was also among the humanitarian concerns.
However, major disagreements continued to obstruct progress. Ukraine insists that Russia must first agree to a ceasefire before discussions move towards broader European security arrangements and long-term guarantees for Kyiv. Moscow wants wider security questions addressed differently. Territorial disputes, particularly Russia's demands concerning the eastern Donbas region, also remain unresolved.
Europe's participation emerged as another sticking point. European representatives held separate discussions with Ukrainian and US officials but did not directly participate in the trilateral negotiations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed their involvement, arguing that European security cannot be discussed without Europe's participation. Medinsky questioned Europe's role, saying Moscow had received no concrete peace proposals from European countries. He also called for a new security framework that would not come at the expense of any country.
The negotiations took place amid continued fighting, including Russian strikes in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions and Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Russian infrastructure.
US envoys Witkoff and Kushner are expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday before travelling to Dublin for discussions with Zelenskyy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said European partners must be involved in securing a lasting settlement.