Abu Dhabi to Host US-Brokered Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks on November 10-11

In a social media post, Witkoff said the talks would cover post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and ending the war. A senior US official told Reuters that Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the lead US negotiators, are expected to represent Washington. Reuters also reported that the Kremlin had confirmed the meeting.

The last round of US-mediated talks took place in February, before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran, according to Reuters. Axios reported that US officials see the Abu Dhabi meeting as the result of recent conversations Witkoff and Kushner held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin agreed to a new trilateral round after meeting Witkoff in St Petersburg two weeks ago.

In a statement quoted by Axios, Witkoff said the US side looked forward to "building on the progress made in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg toward a comprehensive, durable peace agreement."

A Parallel Track in Brussels

US negotiators will also meet working-level representatives from France, Germany, Britain, the European Union and NATO in Brussels this week. According to the US official, that meeting will cover Ukraine's security guarantees, Europe's future security framework and economic support for Ukraine's reconstruction. The official said the meetings reflect President Donald Trump's continued efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement.

Reconstruction is likely to become one of the largest public and private investment programmes of the coming decade if a settlement is reached, and the Brussels discussions are the first sign of how Washington and its European partners plan to coordinate on it.

The Gaps Remain Wide

The sources do not expect a quick result. Reuters said the two sides remain far apart on the terms of any deal, although Trump has recently increased pressure on Kyiv to reach an agreement. Axios reported that territory is the main sticking point, and that Putin's only apparent concession so far is agreeing to return to the table.

Axios also reported that the White House hopes Putin will be more willing to compromise after Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel sales and took other steps welcomed by Moscow. Russia's escalating attacks on Ukrainian cities and its refusal to agree to a ceasefire have raised doubts about the prospects for progress. Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine had intelligence suggesting Russia was preparing another large attack on its energy and logistics facilities on Tuesday, "when the world will be watching the American midterms," Axios reported.

For the UAE, hosting the talks adds to a mediation role it has built during the war, and it comes while the Gulf is dealing with the economic fallout of the Iran conflict and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Gulf News said the Abu Dhabi round is part of a wider US diplomatic push to remove the main obstacles to ending the conflict.