US envoys to meet Ukraine, EU and NATO officials before Abu Dhabi talks
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will meet Ukrainian, EU and NATO representatives before US-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November.
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Ukraine's delegation has departed for Abu Dhabi for two days of US-mediated talks with Russia on Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 and 11 November, as US President Donald Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff prepare to meet separately with representatives of Ukraine, the European Union, NATO and four European countries, delegation chief Rustem Umerov said.
Umerov, who heads Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service and leads its delegation, said Kyiv would hold separate coordination meetings with European partners alongside the trilateral talks. Representatives of the E4 group, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, along with NATO and the European Commission, will also be in Abu Dhabi during the talks, he said.
NATO will be represented by Geoffrey van Leeuwen, chief of staff to the alliance's secretary-general, a NATO official told Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne. The European Commission will send Björn Seibert, head of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's cabinet, at national security adviser level, commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said. Germany will be represented by Günter Sautter, an adviser to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The exact format of European participation was still unclear, a source in the Ukrainian delegation told Suspilne. The Kremlin said the trilateral talks would take place only between Russia, Ukraine and the United States as mediator, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying "the Americans have their own channels of communication with the Europeans." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had said on 8 November that France would represent Europe's position.
Russia's delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, and will include two representatives of the Russian military's General Staff and two deputy foreign ministers, among them Sergei Ryabkov, taking part for the first time, according to Kyiv Post. The talks on 10-11 November will be the first such negotiations since February 2026.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on the sidelines of a G7 meeting that the coming days would show whether Russia was ready to negotiate seriously, adding that so far only deadly attacks on civilians were visible, not a change in Moscow's maximalist demands.
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What we know
- 2+ outlets · Ukrinform, Kyiv Post Ukraine's delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, departed for Abu Dhabi ahead of two days of US-mediated talks with Russia on 10-11 November.
- 2+ outlets · Kyiv Post, NV.ua US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will meet separately with Ukrainian, EU and NATO representatives alongside the trilateral talks, Umerov said.
- 2+ outlets · HLN, NV.ua NATO, the European Commission, and the E4 group (UK, France, Germany, Italy) will all be represented in Abu Dhabi, officials said.
- Official · Dmitry Peskov The Kremlin said the talks are trilateral between Russia, Ukraine and the US only, with no direct European role, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
- 1 outlet · Kyiv Post Russia's delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and includes two deputy foreign ministers, Kyiv Post reported.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Figure history
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Why it matters for Europe
The talks mark the first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since February 2026, and come as European governments press to avoid being sidelined from decisions about Ukraine's future security. Poland's foreign minister has warned against western European states negotiating with Russia over the heads of eastern Europeans, while Germany has set out principles for any settlement, including ending the fighting first and ensuring European involvement in security decisions.
Sources
Reported by 7 reports from 7 independent outlets in 4 countries.
- Ukrinform: Ukrainian delegation heads to Abu Dhabi for trilateral meeting
- HLN: Oekraïne houdt aparte gesprekken met EU, NAVO en Verenigd Koninkrijk in Abu Dhabi
- Het Belang van Limburg: LIVE OORLOG IN OEKRAÏNE. Werknemer van kerncentrale Zaporizja omgekomen bij drone-aanval - Rusland: “Vredesgesprekken in Abu Dhabi zonder Europeanen”
- NV.ua: EU and NATO representatives to attend Abu Dhabi talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine
- Kyiv Post: Ukraine Heads to Abu Dhabi for Talks as Umerov Vows to Keep Europe Involved
Source balance
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Intelligence file
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Confidence and impact scores, 4 more sources, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Questions and answers
- When and where are the talks?
- In Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November, mediated by the United States.
- Who is taking part?
- Delegations from Ukraine and Russia, with the US as mediator; the EU, NATO and four European countries will hold separate side meetings.
- Does Russia accept a European role in the talks?
- No. The Kremlin says the talks are strictly trilateral between Russia, Ukraine and the US, with no European seat at the table.
This article was written with AI assistance from 9 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.