Trilateral Talks Open in Abu Dhabi as G7 Meets in Paris on Ukraine
At a Glance
Russia, Ukraine and the US opened two-day talks in Abu Dhabi.
G7 foreign ministers met in Paris with Ukraine's foreign minister.
Europeans are pressing for a seat at the table.
Three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States opened Tuesday in the UAE as Washington makes another push to end the war, while G7 diplomats met in Paris to discuss support for Kyiv.
Key Statements and Focus Area
Kushner on the Goal: "We take what's worked, we try to identify what's failed, why we're in this position and hopefully create a new framework that leads us for decades, if not centuries, of peace." — Jared Kushner, US envoy.
Wadephul on Europe's Role: "Europe belongs at this table. There can be no solution without Europe, only with Europe." — Johan Wadephul, German Foreign Minister.
Merz on Expectations: "I don't have overly high expectations" for the talks. — Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor.
Focus Area: The first trilateral talks since February and the dispute over European participation in negotiations.
The White House said the two-day session in Abu Dhabi will focus on future security guarantees for both sides.
The delegations are led by Rustem Umerov for Ukraine and Vladimir Medinsky for Russia, with US envoys Kushner and Steve Witkoff mediating.
The Ukrainian team first met representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission, who will not join the main talks.
Russia has insisted on a strictly trilateral format but said EU representatives could join later.
Rubio said the US has no objection to eventual European involvement, but that it is not yet time. The sides remain far apart.
Putin demands Ukraine withdraw from four annexed regions it has not fully captured, abandon its NATO bid and accept limits on its military, and he rejects a general ceasefire.
Zelenskyy rejects ceding territory or military limits and wants a ceasefire first. Three earlier rounds this year produced no breakthrough.
Overnight, Russia launched 162 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, while Moscow said it downed 155 Ukrainian drones.
On Monday, Russia struck Ukraine's power grid and Ukraine hit another major Russian oil refinery.
In Paris, Rubio met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and the State Department said they discussed negotiations, energy resilience, and defense cooperation.
The wider G7 meeting was expected to address military and security assistance, which the Trump administration has reduced, causing concern in Kyiv and across Europe. It was unclear whether any new aid would be announced.
FYI
Russia's all-out invasion began nearly five years ago, and analysts and humanitarian groups say the war has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of civilians.
Trump has said a broader European security deal is in the works, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed putting collective security at the top of the agenda, though some in the EU see the US proposals as too accommodating to Moscow.
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Russia Insists on Trilateral Format as Ukraine Coordinates Side-Talks With Allies
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