US Envoys Seek Security Guarantees as Ukraine and Russia Resume Negotiations
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff join Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi for the first trilateral talks in nine months, aiming to link territory settlements with postwar defense pacts.
By Natalia Costa ·
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will join Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday for the first trilateral peace talks in nine months. The sessions mark the start of structured negotiations on territory, a shift from previous rounds where such issues were often sidelined.
The U.S. delegation includes Kushner and Witkoff, while Ukraine will be represented by intelligence chief Rustem Umerov and Russia by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior aide to President Vladimir Putin. Before sitting across from their counterparts, American officials plan to meet with security leaders from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy, along with NATO and the European Union, to discuss postwar security architecture.
A U.S. official told reporters on Monday that Washington is asking Russia to accept an "Article Four and an Article Five-like security guarantee" for Ukraine. The official described this arrangement as "effectively very similar to NATO." However, President Donald Trump has not decided what specific security guarantee the United States will provide, calling it a "really, really big deal" that must be worked out between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Territorial disputes remain the central obstacle. Russia publicly demands control of all of Donetsk, while Ukraine seeks to freeze the conflict along the current line of contact. A U.S. official noted that both sides have shown "a little bit of flexibility privately" on these borders. In a "60 Minutes" interview airing Sunday, Trump suggested Ukraine’s borders could change, stating the country might emerge with "a little bit different shape."
Officials do not expect to resolve the territorial dispute during the two-day summit. Instead, the goal is to clarify positions, identify remaining gaps, and explore compromises to present to Putin and Zelenskyy. The administration views the territorial question and security arrangements as inseparable, believing neither side will make concessions until they understand the postwar defense setup.
Washington hopes to persuade Russia to join a multilateral process that includes European governments. A U.S. official stated, "We need Europe at the table," arguing that direct talks between Russia and European nations are necessary for a durable settlement. Ideas under consideration include reviving the NATO-Russia Council as a forum for de-escalation and establishing crisis communication channels.
The administration also sees sanctions as a tool for enforcing a future agreement. Officials suggested that sanctions on Russia could be eased over time, with the ability to "spring back in place" if Moscow violates a peace deal. Kushner and Witkoff are considering returning to meet Putin and Zelenskyy soon, depending on the outcome of the Abu Dhabi talks.
Trump is preparing to travel to China next week for the APEC summit, where he expects to meet Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Discussions about a potential three-way meeting are underway, though no summit has been finalized. A U.S. official said, "This is the first time I feel like we see real desire on the Russian side to finish."
