Russia, Ukraine and US open two-day talks in Abu Dhabi as Europe's role disputed
Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine and the United States began trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the first such meeting since February, according to US broadcasters and the Russian agencies Interfax and RBC. RBC reported the session had run about four hours with a break; Interfax, citing a source in the negotiating group, said the talks would continue on Wednesday. Before the discussions, the White House said the two-day session would focus on security guarantees, NPR reported. The New York Times reported a ceasefire was not on the table. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would take part, CGTN and The Moscow Times reported; the Kremlin said the negotiations would involve only Russia, Ukraine and the United States, Vedomosti and Asharq Al-Awsat reported. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would not hinder US contacts with Europeans, Interfax reported.
34 outlets · 32 independent
How each bloc framed it
WAS · Washington
US outlets led with the resumption of US-mediated talks and what is and is not on the table, with several framing the agenda as a concession to Moscow while noting no ceasefire is expected.
BEI · Beijingstate
Chinese state outlets led with the procedural fact of the talks starting and the EU–Russia dispute over European participation, without assessing the substance; the private South China Morning Post led with the February gap since the last round.
MOS · Moscowstate
State and private outlets led with Moscow's position that Europeans are excluded and with Lavrov's remarks, while exile outlets focused on the absence of a ceasefire and on the Russian delegation's composition.
BRU · Brussels
European outlets led with Europe's exclusion from the negotiating table and the pressure this creates, alongside the stated focus on security guarantees and the prospect of a new European security order; several also reported an initial prisoner-exchange understanding and an agreement to review postwar security structures.
GLF · The Gulfstate
Gulf outlets led with the start of the talks under US mediation and with the differing Russian and Ukrainian positions, one state outlet questioning whether the talks can end the war; the private Khaleej Times later carried US Secretary of State Rubio's description of the talks as productive.
LON · London
UK outlets led with the resumption of talks, US officials' language about flexibility and a "final end" to the war, and a large attack on Ukraine's power grid hours before the talks.
TOK · Tokyo
Japanese outlets led with the start of the three-way senior-official talks in the UAE, framing post-war security arrangements and the question of European involvement as the focus.
Outlets & characterisations (34)
Every characterisation below is written in our own words; no publisher headline is reproduced. Each row links out to the original report.
Washington (6)
- The Washington Post· Private— led with European concerns that US calls for a broader European security agreement echo Kremlin talking points, and later with the talks starting under US backing.Read report ↗
- The New York Times· Private— led with the resumption of US-led talks and stated a ceasefire would not be on the table.Read report ↗
- ABC News· Private— led with the start of the two-day meeting and noted past Russia–Ukraine talks have yielded little progress.Read report ↗
- NPR· Public— led with the envoys Kushner and Witkoff renewing the talks, then with the White House's stated focus on security guarantees and the February gap.Read report ↗
- CBS News· Private— led with the start of the trilateral push, describing it as the first since negotiations were suspended after the start of the war with Iran.Read report ↗
- NBC News· Private— led with the session running nearly four hours and with its correspondent's breakdown of developments.Read report ↗
Beijing (3)
- CGTN· State— led with the EU–Russia split over European participation, citing von der Leyen and the Kremlin's position in one report.Read report ↗
- China News Service· State[zh]— led with the procedural start of the new round and with the Ukrainian delegation's arrival in Abu Dhabi.Read report ↗
- Hong Kong· Private— led with the first US-brokered talks since February and Trump's suggestion of a broad deal, citing RIA on the start and the Witkoff–Kushner mediation.Read report ↗
Moscow (5)
- Russian press in exile· Exile[ru]— led with the French foreign minister's statement that Europeans would take part, and separately with reports that a ceasefire would not be discussed.Read report ↗
- Vedomosti· Private[ru]— led with reports that Europeans would attend, then with the Kremlin's denial of European participation.Read report ↗
- TASS· State— led with a Valdai expert's view that neither Russia nor the US needs Europeans at the talks, then with a source saying European participation is excluded.Read report ↗
- Interfax· Private[ru]— led with Lavrov saying Russia will not hinder US contacts with Europeans, then with a source saying the talks continue Wednesday.Read report ↗
- RBC· Private[ru]— led with Lavrov's remark on the Europeans' arrival in Abu Dhabi, then with the session's four-hour duration including a break.Read report ↗
Brussels (12)
- Libération· Private[fr]— led with Europeans being excluded from the negotiations and the pressure this creates, and later with transactional diplomacy behind the talks.Read report ↗
- EUobserver· Private— led with the week's diplomatic calendar, including a coalition-of-the-willing exercise, then with how the EU found a way into the room.Read report ↗
- Deutsche Welle· Public[de]— led with Russia rejecting Europe's participation and with the stated focus on security guarantees, later asking whether a breakthrough is possible.Read report ↗
- tagesschau Ausland· Public[de]— led with the EU announcing participation, then with German Foreign Minister Wadephul doubting Russia's willingness to negotiate and demanding European say.Read report ↗
- Die Zeit· Private[de]— led with how close the talks are to peace and who sits at the table, then with Witkoff's reference to building on existing European security institutions.Read report ↗
- Le Monde· Private[fr]— led with the composition of the Russian delegation under Medinsky, then with French and Ukrainian officials welcoming US efforts toward partial truces.Read report ↗
- France 24· Public— led with Kyiv and Paris welcoming US efforts to revive talks and with a five-point explainer on the negotiations.Read report ↗
- Le Figaro· Private[fr]— led with Europe relegated to a secondary role, then with the US and Russia discussing European security and Europeans left with a secondary part.Read report ↗
- Süddeutsche Zeitung· Private[de]— led with the talks under US mediation and no breakthrough expected, listing security guarantees, a Black Sea truce and an end to energy-site strikes as Ukrainian key questions.Read report ↗
- Politico Europe· Private— led with a US–EU agreement to review postwar continental security, then with a prisoner-swap discussion during what Zelensky called constructive talks.Read report ↗
- Frankfurter Allgemeine· Private[de]— led with a reported prisoner-exchange agreement and Lavrov rejecting a ceasefire, then with a comment piece arguing Putin must move.Read report ↗
- Der Spiegel· Private[de]— led with the view that only Trump believes in a grand deal, framing the question as what is realistic.Read report ↗
The Gulf (3)
- Asharq Al-Awsat· Private— led with the Kremlin denying European participation, and separately with Zelensky coordinating positions with the EU before the talks.Read report ↗
- Khaleej Times· Private— led with the US-mediated talks starting, then with Rubio's description of the talks as "very productive".Read report ↗
- Al Jazeera· State[ar]— led with whether the Abu Dhabi talks can end the war, citing cautious US optimism and disputes over territory, security guarantees and European security, then with why the talks will not end the war.Read report ↗
London (3)
- BBC News· Public— led with US officials reporting "some flexibility" by the warring sides and the first trilateral talks since February.Read report ↗
- The Independent· Private— led with a large attack causing power outages across Ukraine hours before the talks, alongside US officials seeking a "final end" to the war.Read report ↗
- The Guardian· Private— led with US officials seeking a "final end" to the war and a US proposal for a long-term security architecture between Moscow and Europe.Read report ↗
Tokyo (2)
Coverage timeline by bloc (first report)
MOSMoscow· first via Novaya Gazeta Europe
14:26 UTC (77 reports)
BRUBrussels· first via Libération
04:31 UTC (39 reports)
GLFThe Gulf· first via Asharq Al-Awsat
09:48 UTC (11 reports)
BEIBeijing· first via CGTN
14:27 UTC (5 reports)
WASWashington· first via The Washington Post
21:22 UTC (8 reports)
TOKTokyo· first via NHK
02:02 UTC (4 reports)
LONLondon· first via BBC News
09:07 UTC (3 reports)
Independent confirmation working (34 outlets → 32 independent)
Outlets citing the same wire agency, carrying near-duplicate standfirsts, or belonging to the same ownership group count as one confirmation.
TASS (wire)[wire]
Russian press in exile, TASS, RBC
Libération[independent]
Libération
EUobserver[independent]
EUobserver
Vedomosti[independent]
Vedomosti
Asharq Al-Awsat[independent]
Asharq Al-Awsat
Deutsche Welle[independent]
Deutsche Welle
tagesschau Ausland[independent]
tagesschau Ausland
CGTN[independent]
CGTN
The Washington Post[independent]
The Washington Post
China News Service (wire)[wire]
China News Service
NHK[independent]
NHK
Asahi Shimbun[independent]
Asahi Shimbun
The New York Times[independent]
The New York Times
Khaleej Times[independent]
Khaleej Times
Die Zeit[independent]
Die Zeit
Le Monde[independent]
Le Monde
France 24[independent]
France 24
ABC News[independent]
ABC News
Le Figaro[independent]
Le Figaro
Süddeutsche Zeitung[independent]
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Al Jazeera[independent]
Al Jazeera
BBC News[independent]
BBC News
NPR[independent]
NPR
Interfax[independent]
Interfax
The Independent[independent]
The Independent
Hong Kong[independent]
Hong Kong
Politico Europe[independent]
Politico Europe
The Guardian[independent]
The Guardian
CBS News[independent]
CBS News
Frankfurter Allgemeine[independent]
Frankfurter Allgemeine
NBC News[independent]
NBC News
Der Spiegel[independent]
Der Spiegel