US, Russia agree to resume military dialogue after Abu Dhabi talks

The United States and Russia have agreed to reestablish high-level military-to-military dialogue following talks in Abu Dhabi, the U.S. military said on Thursday, marking the first such engagement in more than four years. The communication channel had been suspended in late 2021, shortly before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. European Command said in a statement. The decision to restore contact follows meetings in the United Arab Emirates’ capital involving U.S. European Command chief General Alexus G. Grynkewich and senior military officials from Russia and Ukraine. The move comes as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to push Kyiv and Moscow toward a negotiated settlement to end the war, although both sides remain deeply divided on key issues despite multiple rounds of U.S.-led talks. Ukrainian officials said the latest discussions differed from earlier attempts because Russia’s delegation included military representatives, signaling a shift toward more operational-level engagement. Among the most contentious issues are Russia’s demands that Ukraine relinquish territory it still controls in the eastern Donetsk region and the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. Moscow has said any agreement would require Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the entire Donetsk region, including heavily fortified areas that form a central part of Kyiv’s defenses. Ukraine has rejected such conditions, saying any settlement should freeze the conflict along current front lines. Kyiv has also said it seeks the return of control over the Zaporizhzhia plant. Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region seized before the 2022 invasion. Analysts estimate Russian forces have captured roughly 1.5% more territory since early 2024. The talks followed a wave of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine earlier this week, though reports of attacks eased on Thursday. Kyiv’s mayor said two people were injured overnight in a drone strike on the capital.