The Kremlin stated that the Abu Dhabi talks did not discuss the U.S. peace plan, and Trump will send an envoy to Moscow.
Based on the diplomatic dynamics among multiple parties in late January, analyze the latest positions, core differences, and strategic interactions among the United States, Russia, and Ukraine in the peace negotiation process of the Ukraine conflict, and assess the potential pathways and main obstacles to reaching an agreement in the short term.
Detail
Published
22/12/2025
Key Chapter Title List
- Abu Dhabi Talks Did Not Involve US Peace Plan
- Trump to Send Envoy to Present Proposal to Putin
- Russia's Preliminary Evaluation and Requirements for the Proposal
- Subsequent US-Russia Military-Level Contacts
- Trump's Arrangement for a Trilateral Leaders' Meeting
- Revision of the Negotiation Draft and Ukraine's Position
- Russia's Attitude Towards Early Drafts and European Proposals
- Ukraine Pushes for Zelensky-Trump Meeting
- Zelensky's Description and Expectations for the US-Ukraine Meeting
Document Introduction
This report focuses on a series of key diplomatic developments surrounding peace negotiations for the Ukraine conflict in late November 2025. Core events include talks between US and Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, US President Trump's announcement that he will send envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to present a peace proposal, and statements from relevant parties regarding the revision process of the negotiation draft. This series of interactions marks a renewed US diplomatic effort to end the nearly four-year-long conflict, following a period of stalled negotiations after the Trump-Putin Alaska summit in August.
The report details the positions and interaction specifics of multiple parties. Russian Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Yuri Ushakov explicitly denied that the US peace plan was discussed during the Abu Dhabi talks, despite Moscow having received the latest draft. Russia's preliminary evaluation deemed certain aspects of the proposal potentially positive but emphasized that many elements require expert-level discussion. It also noted that the earlier 28-point draft contained provisions it considered acceptable as a basis, though further modifications are needed. Concurrently, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held a separate meeting with Russian representatives as a follow-up to the weekend US-Ukraine officials' talks in Geneva, about which the US side expressed optimism.
The negotiation draft itself has evolved. The initial 28-point plan was reduced to approximately 20 points. According to US officials, Ukraine has agreed to the revised framework, with only minor details remaining to be finalized. A senior official familiar with the matter told AFP that the latest version is significantly better for Kyiv than the original US draft. However, it remains uncertain whether Putin will accept the revised version. Furthermore, Moscow rejected a competing peace proposal drafted by European leaders, which aligns more closely with Kyiv's priorities.
At the leadership diplomacy level, Trump stated that he hopes to meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky as soon as possible when a peace agreement is finalized or enters its final stage. Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov indicated that Kyiv officials are pushing for an early meeting between Zelensky and Trump. Zelensky described his previous meeting with Trump as candid, during which he had hoped to obtain Tomahawk missiles for deep strikes into Russian territory.
This report is based on an integrated analysis of official statements, media reports, and information disclosed by informed sources around November 26, 2025. It aims to provide researchers with a timely assessment of the current state of the negotiation deadlock, the strategic calculations of various parties, and potential breakthrough points. The report's content strictly adheres to publicly available information, avoids speculative judgments, and focuses on presenting the public positions and interaction logic of the involved parties. It serves as crucial background for analyzing the diplomatic and military developments in the next phase of the conflict.