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1 1 (May 22, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/goveukt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Russia's War Against Ukraine: Diplomatic Talks and U.S. Policy Updated May 22, 2026 The Russian Federation (Russia) launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. More than four years later, Russia and Ukraine remain engaged in Europe's largest war in scope and scale since World War II. With estimates ranging from up to 1.3 million to 1.8 million killed or wounded to date, and with Russia in control of about 20% of Ukraine's territory, neither side appears poised to achieve a decisive military victory. The second Trump Administration has engaged in efforts to facilitate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Building on prior discussions in 2025, Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. officials met for the first time in a trilateral format in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in January 2026. Subsequent U.S.-mediated talks followed in February 2026 in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, Switzerland. The United States, European states, Ukraine, and Russia have continued talks in a variety of formats, but formal talks between Russia and Ukraine have not resumed since the start of U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran in late February 2026. Members of Congress may evaluate the prospects for, and potential costs and benefits of, continued U.S. mediation between Russia and Ukraine, including implications for U.S. strategic interests. Aspects of Negotiations Talks have addressed or may address various issues, including the following. Contours of a Potential Peace Settlement. U.S. talks with Russia and Ukraine in 2025 centered in part on whether negotiations should seek to secure a sustained ceasefire prior to a comprehensive peace settlement. Ukrainian officials have long expressed support for a sustained ceasefire. Russian officials have expressed preference for a comprehensive settlement, which for Russia would optimally include neutrality for Ukraine, constraints on Ukrainian military power, and occupation of additional Ukrainian territory that Russia claims to have annexed but does not control. In an August 2025 meeting with President Trump in Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly proposed a ceasefire along the line of contact in two of Ukraine's southern regions, if Ukraine transferred to Russia populated areas of the eastern Donetsk region. Ukrainian authorities rejected this proposal, maintaining (among other reasons) that the transfer of this heavily fortified fortress belt would greatly diminish Ukraine's ability to defend itself from further Russian aggression. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12534 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress