ABU DHABI, Nov. 11 — Russia-Ukraine-US Talks concluded their first day in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday with a constructive tone but no ceasefire breakthrough. Kyiv and Washington described the discussions as “constructive” and “productive,” while Moscow remained cautious. The trilateral negotiations, the first in nine months, are scheduled to continue on Wednesday.
The meeting in the UAE capital lasted nearly four hours and marked the first face-to-face trilateral consultation since February, when the previous round ended without progress. The Russian delegation was led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, alongside Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin and military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. US Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner headed the American team, while Ukraine was represented by Rustem Umerov, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, and Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Presidential Office.
What Was Discussed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not present at the talks, said on social media that the discussions were “constructive and quite substantive.” He identified prisoner exchanges as a priority, noting that the parties were preparing for a large-scale swap potentially involving 1,000 to 1,500 people per side. US officials were expected to travel to Russia to discuss the matter further, he added. Zelensky also said the talks covered security guarantees for Ukraine and mechanisms to ensure their long-term effectiveness, as well as steps toward de-escalation.
Kushner wrote on X that he was “encouraged by the constructive discussions,” saying the US was working to end the war and “establish the security arrangements necessary for a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Ukraine and lasting peace across Europe.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking after a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris, described the Abu Dhabi talks as “very productive” but tempered expectations. “It’s not like something that’s on the verge of being solved in the next 24 hours,” he said. Rubio also said the trilateral format should eventually be expanded to include European partners “because they are a part of solving this problem for the long term.”
Russia’s Cautious Stance
Russia did not issue a formal assessment after the first day. Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov said it was “too early” to judge the progress and confirmed the talks would continue Wednesday. At the United Nations, Russia’s Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia reiterated Moscow’s position at a Security Council meeting, stating that Russia “will not accept a freeze in the conflict” and that any settlement must be “comprehensive, sustainable, and long-term” while addressing the root causes of the crisis.
The question of Europe’s role also remains unresolved. While Rubio publicly advocated for European inclusion, the composition of any future format remains a point of contention, with Moscow having previously signaled reluctance toward expanding the talks beyond the three-party framework.
Fighting Continues
The diplomatic tone contrasted sharply with events on the ground. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 162 drones and one ballistic missile overnight, while Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces intercepted and destroyed 155 Ukrainian drones. Neither claim could be independently verified.
What to Watch
The second day of talks is expected to address the territorial question—the most sensitive and intractable issue. Analysts remain skeptical of substantive progress. Su Xiaohui of the China Institute of International Studies noted that Washington is eager for a quick outcome but “has neither the intention nor the capacity to address the underlying issues,” suggesting expectations for a breakthrough should remain low.
A concrete signal to watch: whether the proposed large-scale prisoner exchange materializes in the coming days—the first potential evidence that the “constructive” tone of day one can translate into tangible results.
