US to Mediate Trilateral Ukraine-Russia Talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11

The United States will bring together Ukrainian and Russian delegations for working-level talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, 2026. Special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the meetings on social media on November 2, stating that the discussions will cover post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward ending the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the schedule on November 3. Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian side. Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to represent the United States. The talks follow a meeting between Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg roughly two weeks earlier, during which Putin agreed to resume the trilateral format.

The previous round of US-mediated talks took place in February, before the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran interrupted the process. Ukraine and Russia remain divided on core territorial and security issues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated openness to discussions on freezing front lines in exchange for credible security guarantees, though no such arrangement has been finalized.

Ahead of the Abu Dhabi sessions, US negotiators plan to meet representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and NATO in Brussels. Those consultations will address security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe's post-war security architecture, and economic support for reconstruction. Witkoff described the overall effort as advancing President Donald Trump's stated goal of ending the war.

A temporary ceasefire earlier in the period allowed limited humanitarian access and evacuations in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. Russian forces have continued strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in multiple regions. The conflict has now entered its fifth year. European officials have expressed caution about the prospects for a comprehensive settlement while acknowledging the diplomatic opening.

The Abu Dhabi meetings are described as working-level rather than a summit involving heads of state. Outcomes will depend on whether the sides can narrow differences on security guarantees and de-escalation measures. Previous rounds produced limited progress on prisoner exchanges and limited ceasefires but no agreement on a durable end to hostilities.

The choice of Abu Dhabi as venue continues a pattern of Gulf-mediated or hosted contacts. The United Arab Emirates has maintained channels with multiple parties. Any agreement reached would require subsequent political endorsement from Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington, along with European input on security arrangements.

Further details on the precise composition of the Ukrainian and Russian delegations beyond the named leads have not been publicly confirmed. Monitoring of the talks will focus on whether concrete proposals on force posture or monitoring mechanisms emerge.