Russia and Ukraine hold first US-brokered talks in nine months, in Abu Dhabi

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine sat down in Abu Dhabi on 10 November for their first talks on ending the war since February, with the United States acting as broker.

The talks came after President Donald Trump suggested the week before that a broad deal was possible, both on ending the war and on guaranteeing security in Europe.

US envoy Jared Kushner said his recent contacts with Moscow and Kyiv had “really identified, narrowed the gaps”, according to the reports. The National, a newspaper in the UAE, said the talks were focused on security.

The sticking points

The main differences remain the same as at the last round, DW reported. Ukraine wants guarantees of its security after any ceasefire, which Russia has refused to accept.

The war began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier rounds of US-led talks, including meetings in Florida in December 2025, did not produce a deal.

Why it matters for India

India buys large amounts of Russian oil and has called for an end to the war through dialogue. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month that India was ready to help reopen Black Sea food routes.

Neither delegation had made a statement on the outcome when this story was published.