Kyiv, Ukraine – The United States and Russia have agreed to reestablish high-level military dialogue, a move signaling a potential thaw in relations amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The agreement, reached Thursday following talks in Abu Dhabi, marks the first time in more than four years that the two countries will engage in direct military-to-military communication.
The restoration of this communication channel comes as President Donald Trump has pursued efforts to end the war in Ukraine, with many of his proposals reportedly favoring the Kremlin. High-level military communication was suspended in late 2021, as tensions rose in the lead-up to Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
According to a statement released by the US European Command, the renewed dialogue “will provide a consistent military-to-military contact as the parties continue to work towards a lasting peace.” The agreement emerged from a meeting in the United Arab Emirates involving senior military officials from both the US and Russia.
US General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of US and NATO forces in Europe, participated in the talks, which also included representatives from Ukraine. These discussions represent the second day of US-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, with the involvement of US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.
Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council chief, confirmed the presence of Witkoff and Kushner at the talks. Similar discussions were held last month, focusing on the contested region of Donbas, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has identified as a “key” issue.
While no specific breakthroughs have been publicly detailed, the resumption of dialogue is seen as a positive step, reflecting President Trump’s push for a ceasefire in Ukraine. This comes as the conflict continues to take a heavy toll on both sides.
President Zelenskyy revealed in a recent interview with France 2 that approximately 55,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since the start of the invasion, an increase from the 46,000 reported in early 2025. He also noted a significant number of Ukrainian soldiers are currently listed as missing.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for security guarantees from the US and Europe to deter future Russian aggression, stating, “Ukrainians must feel genuine progress toward peace, not a scenario in which the Russians exploit everything.”
Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, reportedly firing 183 drones and two ballistic missiles overnight in an apparent attempt to disrupt civilian life and weaken support for the war effort. Ukrainian officials reported two injuries in Kyiv as a result of the drone strikes, while Russian defenses claimed to have downed 95 Ukrainian drones over various regions, including annexed Crimea.
Alongside the reestablishment of military dialogue, Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange Friday. The Russian Defence Ministry announced the return of 157 Russian servicemen, along with three Russian nationals captured during an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. Ukrainian officials confirmed the return of 150 Ukrainian servicemen and seven civilians from Russian captivity.
The Russian Defence Ministry stated that the released Russian soldiers are currently receiving medical assistance in Belarus before being transported back to Russia. Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that those returning from Russian captivity are in a difficult psychological state, with some critically underweight, and that 18 of the returned servicemen had been “illegally sentenced by Russia.”
Further developments include reports that Russian forces have lost access to Starlink satellite internet terminals on the front lines, following a request from Ukraine to SpaceX to disable the service within the country. This has reportedly impacted Russian command-and-control capabilities and navigation for drones, leading to a slowdown in assaults in some sectors.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, during a visit to Kyiv, agreed with President Zelenskyy to jointly develop ammunition production at plants in both countries. Poland also plans to increase its supplies of liquefied natural gas to Ukraine and explore a potential exchange of weaponry, including Ukrainian drones for Polish MiG fighter jets.
