Peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have ended without a breakthrough, despite what officials described as constructive discussions on the future security of the region.
The two-day meeting, mediated by the United States in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, concluded on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. It was the first direct round of talks between the two countries since February.
The most significant outcome was an agreement in principle to organize a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war. US envoy Jared Kushner said the final numbers would be confirmed after further discussions.
Russia's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, and Ukraine's delegation also acknowledged progress on the proposed exchange. Russian state media reported that it could take place within two to three weeks, although the final arrangements have yet to be announced.
The agreement provides a humanitarian opening at a time when negotiations over a wider settlement remain difficult.
Security arrangements dominate discussions
Beyond the prisoner exchange, much of the attention focused on how security in Ukraine and Europe would be organized if the war eventually ends.
Kushner said both sides needed a clearer understanding of their future security arrangements. He acknowledged that the negotiations remained challenging, particularly because of the lack of trust between Moscow and Kyiv.
He said discussions had identified areas where compromises might be possible, while other issues would require further engagement.
The US delegation, which also included special envoy Steve Witkoff, has been seeking a framework that could address the security concerns of both countries and reduce the risk of renewed conflict.
However, the idea of a broader European security arrangement has raised concerns among Ukraine's supporters. European governments fear that discussions involving Russia could affect the continent's security without giving affected countries sufficient influence over the outcome.
Territorial demands remain a major obstacle
Despite the discussions, the central disagreement over territory remains unresolved.
Russia continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the eastern Donbas region that remain under Kyiv's control. Moscow has also maintained wider demands concerning Ukraine's military and its future relationship with NATO.
Ukraine has repeatedly rejected surrendering territory that its forces continue to defend. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has argued that any settlement must protect the country's sovereignty and prevent another Russian invasion.
The territorial question is among the most difficult issues facing negotiators. Although Washington has expressed optimism about the possibility of an agreement, neither side has publicly indicated a willingness to make the major concessions that would be needed to bridge the divide.
Europe wants a place at the negotiating table
The role of European countries emerged as another important point of disagreement.
Representatives from several European countries, alongside officials from the European Union and NATO, were in Abu Dhabi for separate discussions with US and Ukrainian officials.
However, they did not take part in the main trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Ukraine's negotiator, David Arakhamia, called for future discussions to include European representatives more directly. Kyiv believes European involvement is essential because any agreement on the continent's security would have consequences beyond the two countries at war.
Zelenskyy also stressed that European security could not be discussed without Europe's participation.
Russia's delegation, led by Medinsky, appeared less enthusiastic about expanding the format. The Russian negotiator questioned what Moscow could discuss with European governments, arguing that they had not presented concrete peace proposals.
Kushner said he and Witkoff would raise the question of European participation during their next diplomatic engagements.
US envoys prepare for meetings with Putin and Zelenskyy
The American delegation is expected to continue its diplomatic efforts beyond Abu Dhabi.
Kushner and Witkoff are scheduled to travel to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before travelling to Dublin, Ireland, for discussions with Zelenskyy.
The meetings are intended to communicate the positions exchanged in Abu Dhabi and explore possible areas of agreement.
The planned visits could help determine whether the latest discussions can lead to another round of negotiations involving a wider group of countries.
However, major questions remain unanswered, including the future of occupied Ukrainian territory, the nature of security guarantees and the conditions under which the fighting could stop.
Fighting continues as diplomatic efforts struggle
The negotiations took place against a backdrop of continued attacks on both sides.
Ukrainian officials reported Russian strikes on major electricity infrastructure, including six large substations, raising concerns about the pressure on the country's power supply.
An attack on a market in Ukraine's southern Odesa region killed three people, according to local authorities. Russian officials also reported Ukrainian drone attacks on their territory, including an incident in the Belgorod region in which one person was killed.
The continued violence highlights the distance between diplomatic discussions and conditions on the ground.
For now, the prisoner exchange agreement represents a limited but meaningful outcome from the Abu Dhabi meeting. The wider goal of ending the war, however, remains uncertain.
The next diplomatic meetings in Moscow and Dublin may offer further opportunities for progress, but the unresolved disputes over territory and security continue to stand in the way of a comprehensive peace agreement.
