US-mediated Ukraine peace talks to resume in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November
Russia, Ukraine and the US will meet in Abu Dhabi next week, the first such trilateral talks since February, Washington's envoy says.
Russia, Ukraine and the United States will resume peace talks in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said, a date confirmed separately by the Kremlin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
It will be the first round of trilateral talks since February, when the process stalled around the start of US and Israeli strikes on Iran, according to Spanish outlet 20minutos. The Russian delegation will again be led by Vladimir Putin's adviser Vladimir Medinsky, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, confirming his country's participation.
Washington said the Abu Dhabi talks would follow up on Witkoff's recent visits to Russia and Ukraine and on Zelensky's meeting in Oslo with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
Zelensky, speaking from Germany, set out his priorities: a ceasefire covering energy and critical infrastructure on both sides; reopening the Black Sea to grain shipments, which he said also interests Russia and countries in Africa and Asia; and a prisoner exchange, ideally "all for all". He ruled out a phone call with President Vladimir Putin or meeting him in Moscow or Kyiv, and said Europe must have a seat at the table.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, meeting Zelensky, said Europe wants to play its own role in the process and announced a meeting of European leaders in Berlin in two weeks. He said the ceasefire around Oleshky could serve as a model for a wider truce covering energy and the Black Sea, and criticised Putin for refusing a humanitarian opening in the hardest-hit regions.
Separately, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he believed the war would end "in the coming months", though he gave no timetable, and warned that failing to end hostilities soon risked a "Third World War".
Ahead of the talks, the European Commission is hosting a meeting on Wednesday with Nato and representatives of France, Germany, the US, the UK and Ukraine on the country's reconstruction, Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho said.
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What we know
- Russia, Ukraine and the US will hold peace talks in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November, US envoy Steve Witkoff said, confirmed by the Kremlin and Zelensky.
- It is the first trilateral round since February, when talks stalled around the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
- Zelensky's priorities include an energy/infrastructure ceasefire, reopening the Black Sea to grain, and a prisoner exchange.
- Merz said Europe wants its own role in the process and will host European leaders in Berlin in two weeks.
- Lukashenko said he believes the war will end "in the coming months" but warned of a "Third World War" if hostilities do not stop soon.
Why it matters for Europe
The talks come even as Russia keeps striking Ukraine: a Russian attack this week injured at least 73 people at a Kharkiv hospital and killed 33 in a strike on an aid-distribution site in Zaporizhzhia region, underlining the gap between the diplomatic track and events on the ground. Zelensky's insistence on a European seat at the table reflects concern that Washington and Moscow could shape a deal without Kyiv's main backers.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 4 countries.
- The Moscow Times: U.S.-Mediated Ukraine Peace Talks to Resume in Abu Dhabi Next Week
- The Moscow Times: U.S.-Mediated Ukraine Peace Talks to Resume in Abu Dhabi Next Week, Witkoff Says
- The Moscow Times: U.S.-Mediated Ukraine Peace Talks to Resume in Abu Dhabi Next Week, Witkoff Says
- The Moscow Times: U.S.-Mediated Ukraine Peace Talks to Resume in Abu Dhabi Next Week
- 20minutos: Rusia y Ucrania retomarán las negociaciones en Abu Dhabi con la mediación de EEUU
Source balance
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Intelligence file
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Confidence and impact scores, 2 more sources, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Questions and answers
- When and where will the talks take place?
- In Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November, the first trilateral round since February, according to US envoy Steve Witkoff.
- What does Ukraine want from the talks?
- Zelensky listed an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, reopening the Black Sea to grain exports, and a prisoner exchange as his priorities.
- Who is leading the Russian delegation?
- Vladimir Putin's adviser Vladimir Medinsky will again lead it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
This article was written with AI assistance from 7 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.