Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has, for the first time, acknowledged Russia’s demand for security guarantees as part of any potential settlement to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking in Kyiv amid renewed efforts by the United States to revive peace talks, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s own security concerns must take precedence before addressing Moscow’s demands.

Until now, Kyiv and its Western allies have largely dismissed Russia’s calls for security assurances from NATO and a restructuring of Europe’s security framework as attempts to maintain Moscow’s influence and undermine the sovereignty of neighboring countries. Zelenskyy stated that resolving the current war must be the initial priority before considering Russia’s demands, which are based on its particular perspectives on regional security.

Negotiation teams from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to meet in early November in Abu Dhabi for preliminary discussions on possible de-escalation measures. These talks aim to explore options for an energy and maritime ceasefire, as well as to address security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskyy noted that any discussions about postwar security arrangements would need to include European involvement. “We can discuss the conceptual issues with the Russians through American mediation. But if we move on to the security guarantees format and it’s agreed that these guarantees will require Europe’s involvement, then Europe has to be part of those discussions,” he said.

The Ukrainian leader’s comments came shortly after Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was the first direct conversation between Putin and European leaders since July 2025. Zelenskyy informed reporters that he had spoken with Stubb and Støre both before and after their call with Putin, and he conveyed that the Nordic leaders felt Moscow appeared “serious” about the planned talks in Abu Dhabi.

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the efforts by Stubb and Støre to engage in the negotiation process, characterizing their involvement as an attempt “to insert themselves into the negotiating process.” Lavrov also stated that “nothing new was discussed” during the call with Putin and expressed skepticism about the prospects for peace, warning that the war “will continue and even, I will say, is likely to escalate.”

The scheduled Abu Dhabi talks represent a renewed, albeit cautious, push by international actors to seek avenues for de-escalation after more than three years of conflict. While Kyiv signals openness to at least conceptually addressing Russia’s security concerns, it remains adamant that Ukraine’s sovereignty and security must be the priority in any agreement.