Europe and US agree to review postwar continental security as Ukraine talks begin

ABU DHABI — European representatives have agreed to review the continent’s overarching security arrangements with the United States to minimize tensions between Russia and NATO allies, on the first day of the latest Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi.

According to two near-identical statements — one from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and another from the European Council — Ukraine and its European partners agreed with the American side that it is “essential” to address “post-war security concerns” and reduce “the risk of conflict” in the region.

“The shared objective is to develop a practical and mutually reinforcing security framework that strengthens Ukraine’s long-term security and builds the confidence necessary to reach a negotiated settlement,” the two statements said. “Alongside a central focus on a lasting peace, the discussion covered how to build upon existing European security institutions and agreements following the conclusion of the war in Ukraine.”

Before the teams from Ukraine and Russia met, preparatory talks took place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday morning involving European powers, Ukraine and the U.S. team. Two officials familiar with these discussions, granted anonymity to discuss confidential matters, said these first talks were substantial and the mood was positive.

The topic of Europe’s future security architecture is acutely sensitive for European governments, who fear that President Donald Trump may be preparing to radically reduce U.S. support for security in their region, after years of bashing NATO allies.

Russia has been demanding a say over scaling back NATO’s efforts in Europe and has repeatedly insisted Ukraine should never join the alliance, something Kyiv and its closest allies have traditionally supported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signs a guestbook in Berlin on Nov. 3, 2026. | Ralf Hirschberger/AFP via Getty Images

One critical question is sequencing. Will a deal on wider European security be part of a final Ukraine peace agreement or will it come later? Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some of his strongest supporters have said in the past that there is no place for Russia to demand a wider European-NATO settlement as a condition for ending the war.

The Abu Dhabi talks mark the first time in nine months that negotiators from Ukraine and Russia have met with representatives from the U.S. for trilateral negotiations on peace. Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, and Witkoff are leading for the American side and pushing hard to expand the scope of the discussion to include Europe’s future security, and to get Europe a seat at the table.

Since Trump returned to the White House last year, his administration has publicly and privately criticized Europeans for not doing enough to take responsibility for their own defenses. Under American pressure, NATO allies agreed new targets to increase their spending on security and defense to 5% of GDP by 2035.

And Trump’s officials have already said they will be cutting back on U.S. troop deployments to Europe.

Ahead of the trilateral talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi, the American and Ukrainian delegations met with European representatives, including top officials from the European Commission, the European Council, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy, and NATO.

“They discussed how to ensure strong mechanisms for managing risk and avoiding dangerous escalation,” the two statements said. “The participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to a strong post-war European security architecture and arrangements, and were clear that a strong NATO will remain central to Euro-Atlantic collective defense.”

Veronika Melkozerova and Zoya Sheftalovich contributed to this report.