Russia Sets Abu Dhabi Peace Talks as Melania Trump Hosts Kherson Summit

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Moscow delegation during the Abu Dhabi sessions. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff stated the meetings will prioritize security arrangements, de-escalation, and humanitarian concerns. Ahead of these talks, U.S. negotiators plan to consult with NATO and European officials in Brussels regarding post-war security guarantees and the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Simultaneously, First Lady Melania Trump has convened a White House meeting this Thursday to address the ceasefire in the Kherson region. This follows a six-day pause in hostilities around the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, which concluded Monday. While the White House characterizes the gathering as a historic event, Ukrainian officials have previously accused Russia of exploiting the Oleshky ceasefire to fortify military positions in the area. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to insist that any final peace settlement must include Kyiv, maintaining his stance that no decisions concerning Ukraine should be made in his absence.