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

The United States will bring together delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, 2026, for the first trilateral talks since February. Special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the meetings on November 2. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on November 3 that presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian side. Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to represent the United States.

Witkoff stated that the discussions will cover post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps toward ending the conflict, now in its fifth year. The previous round of U.S.-mediated talks occurred in February, before the United States and Israel launched operations against Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to the new format after meeting Witkoff in St. Petersburg two weeks earlier.

U.S. officials will also meet representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union and NATO in Brussels in the days before the Abu Dhabi sessions. Those talks will address security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe’s post-war security architecture and economic support for reconstruction. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently acknowledged Russia’s interest in security guarantees as part of any settlement, a shift from earlier positions.

The conflict has produced heavy casualties and damage to energy infrastructure. Russia conducted large-scale strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities in the Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions in early November. A temporary ceasefire arrangement around the southern city of Oleshky allowed limited humanitarian access and evacuations the previous week. That arrangement has been cited by U.S. officials as evidence that narrower agreements remain possible.

Positions remain distant on core issues. Russia has restated its demands concerning root causes and long-term security interests. Ukraine has sought binding security commitments and continued military support. The United States has approved a potential $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine after earlier delays. European allies continue to supply equipment and financial assistance while debating the scale of future commitments.

The timing of the Abu Dhabi meetings coincides with the aftermath of the U.S. midterm elections, in which Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress. The new congressional majorities will influence appropriations for Ukraine assistance beginning in January 2027. The executive branch retains authority over current aid flows and diplomatic channels. Market reaction to the election focused primarily on the Iran conflict and oil prices rather than the Ukraine talks.

First lady Melania Trump is separately scheduled to host Russian and Ukrainian representatives at the White House to discuss a local ceasefire in the Kherson region. The White House described the meeting as an effort to expand limited de-escalation measures. No date has been set for a summit involving Trump, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, though Russian officials have said they hope to finalise plans for such a meeting.

The Abu Dhabi format returns to a venue used in earlier rounds. Working-level talks allow technical discussion of security arrangements, force postures and humanitarian corridors without requiring immediate political decisions by the leaders. Whether the sessions produce a framework that can be taken to higher levels will depend on the willingness of both sides to move from restated positions to concrete proposals on territory, security guarantees and reconstruction financing.