Europe now effectively holds a seat at the US-mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Al Mayadeen’s Moscow bureau chief said, noting that European representatives in Abu Dhabi are steering Kiev’s side of the talks from behind the scenes.

The talks are set to resume on Wednesday, with the extension suggesting there are still issues left to discuss, according to the bureau chief.

Ukraine’s delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, met envoys from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, and the European Commission before the round opened, with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner joining the session.

AFP reported that NATO’s top commander in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, is also taking part in the talks. A joint statement from the Europeans, Ukraine, the US, and NATO reaffirmed a “shared commitment to a strong post-war European security architecture.”

Washington calls for new security framework

Day one ended after several hours of talks, according to AFP. Kushner told delegates that Washington had “narrowed the gaps” between the two sides, without offering details, and said the US aims to build a “new framework” for relations between Ukraine, Russia, and Europe.

Moscow appears to share that priority. A Russian delegation source said settling the Ukraine war is “merely one item on the agenda,” explaining that the main objective is a review of security for the entire continent. Russia sent Sergey Ryabkov to Abu Dhabi, the diplomat who delivered Moscow’s demand to NATO before 2022 to pull back its forces from eastern Europe. The delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, who voiced hope that Moscow’s “more professional” team can help the talks move forward.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier on Tuesday that the negotiations will address collective security guarantees that would take effect only after a comprehensive settlement, a topic Washington proposed and Moscow accepted.

Kiev and its European partners are more cautious. Ukraine has warned against a “Yalta 2.0,” and the EU maintains that security arrangements can be discussed only after a ceasefire.

Russia holds its line on Donbass

Russia refuses to withdraw from Donbass, our bureau chief said, because Moscow considers such a step a threat to its national security.

Russian forces have advanced westward without taking the whole of Donetsk, AFP reported, and Moscow is demanding that Kiev hand over the parts of the region it still controls. US President Donald Trump hinted before the talks that Ukraine “is going to end up with a little bit different shape.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea, telling Danish media that “ceding Ukrainian land for peace is just abstract words.” In the interview, published Tuesday, he also said that “Putin wants the USSR back.”

Kiev presses for truces, guarantees

Umerov said Ukraine’s priorities remain a ceasefire and security guarantees, adding that his delegation holds a mandate from Zelensky to discuss all topics.

The Ukrainian and French foreign ministers, meeting in Paris, welcomed US efforts to secure “partial truces” that could serve as a first step toward a full ceasefire. AFP noted that a local truce in the Kherson region, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, became the longest pause in fighting since the war began.

Kiev is also seeking long-term backing for its army. A senior Ukrainian source told AFP that Ukraine wants at least 10 years of financial support to sustain an army of 800,000 troops capable of deterring a future Russian attack.