Russia and Ukraine hold first talks since February in Abu Dhabi

The first day of US-led talks between Russia and Ukraine ended in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the first time the two countries have sat down together since February. Donald Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff convened the delegations for several hours of negotiations; the talks resume on Wednesday.

Kushner emerged to describe a "new framework" for security between Ukraine, Russia and Europe — one intended to guarantee, in his words, "decades, if not centuries, of peace." The framework covers a continent that is not hosting the negotiations. Moscow's delegation includes Sergei Ryabkov, the diplomat who logged the pre-invasion ultimatum demanding NATO roll back from eastern Europe, and a source in the Russian delegation described settling the war as "merely one item on the agenda" — the main objective being a review of security "for the entire continent."

Kyiv has warned against a "Yalta 2.0," after the 1945 conference where Western leaders and the Soviet Union agreed on the post-war division of Europe. The European Union maintains that broader security arrangements can only be discussed after a ceasefire. Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking in Copenhagen, said it was "time" for Europe to choose a representative for the talks, and offered his reading of the man across the table to Danish media: "Putin wants the USSR back."

NATO's general in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, is taking part, and a joint statement from the Europeans, Ukraine, the United States and NATO reaffirmed a "shared commitment to a strong post-war European security architecture." Kyiv's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov — who met the US envoys along with European, EU and NATO officials before the negotiations began — said his priorities remained a ceasefire and security guarantees. "Our people are waiting to end this war."

European governments worry that Washington will force Kyiv to accept a de facto defeat. Vladimir Putin has repeatedly turned down broader ceasefire offers and vowed his troops will press on in Ukraine, while Trump has floated a deal with Russia on rewriting Europe's post-war security arrangements.

Europe has yet to name its representative. The talks resume on Wednesday, in Abu Dhabi.