The key facts

  • Talks between Russian and Ukrainian working groups will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, mediated by the United States
  • Agenda: postwar security guarantees, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and further steps toward peace
  • This week in Brussels, the US will discuss guarantees for Kyiv and Ukraine's reconstruction with France, Germany, the UK, the EU and NATO

New round of talks in Abu Dhabi

US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Monday that talks between Russian and Ukrainian working groups, mediated by the United States, will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. This was reported by Anadolu, The National and Life.ru, citing Witkoff's post on X. According to him, “the discussions will be focused on agreements on postwar security, de-escalation, humanitarian initiatives and next steps toward peace”. Witkoff linked the meeting to Donald Trump's efforts to end the war, which, as The National notes, is approaching its fifth year.

The Brussels stage and context

Before the meeting in Abu Dhabi, American negotiators will hold consultations in Brussels this week with representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the EU and NATO. The topics are security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe's postwar security architecture and economic opportunities to support the country's reconstruction. Witkoff also stated his intention to “continue the progress made in Kyiv, Oslo and St. Petersburg” toward a comprehensive peace agreement.

A difficult backdrop for the talks

The National emphasizes that the talks are taking place against the backdrop of US relations deteriorating with both Kyiv and Moscow. According to the outlet, Trump recently ordered an exemption of Russian diesel fuel from sanctions amid a global energy crisis — after previously signing a sanctions regime with tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods and duties of up to 100% for China, India and other buyers of Russian energy. At the end of last month, Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin and called him a “humanist.” Relations with Kyiv are strained: Trump has urged the Ukrainian leadership to stop strikes on Russian oil storage facilities and, in his words, “it's time for Ukraine to get a new president,” although he did allow for the possibility of inviting Volodymyr Zelensky to the G20 summit in Florida next month.

Moscow's position on the format

Life.ru recalls that earlier, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov proposed holding the first rounds of talks on Ukraine without the participation of European representatives: in his words, the discussion should be started by Moscow, Washington and Kyiv, with the possibility of bringing European countries in to be considered at later stages. The format of the Brussels consultations announced by Witkoff implies European participation as early as this week — how exactly these two approaches will be reconciled, the sources do not specify.