Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States convened in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11 for the first trilateral talks since February, with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff mediating discussions covering a ceasefire, security guarantees, reconstruction, and humanitarian measures [3][8][39]. Reporting citing The New York Times indicated the round would not discuss a ceasefire, focusing instead on security guarantees and a broader European security framework [14]. The Kremlin insisted the talks proceed under a strictly trilateral format despite European insistence on participation and Ukrainian efforts to hold separate coordination meetings with European partners on the sidelines [4][17][27].
US officials described both Moscow and Kyiv as showing “a little bit of flexibility” privately on control of Ukraine's eastern regions, and the White House expressed “cautious optimism” about the talks [5][22]. Donald Trump predicted a “big, beautiful agreement” that could involve all of Europe and said the parties were “very close to making a deal” [5][42]. Kushner said the US objective was to bring Ukraine and Russia together to discuss postwar security concerns directly, outlining four agenda axes: an immediate ceasefire, reliable security guarantees, an economic reconstruction plan, and humanitarian measures including prisoner and civilian returns [3][39].
Ukrainian and European voices challenged that assessment. Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko said Putin “has absolutely no intention to negotiate seriously” and remains “totally fixated on the destruction of Ukraine” [2]. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul asked whether Russia was genuinely ready to negotiate or staging a “negotiation show” to mask continued attacks [41]. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that the Kremlin's interest in negotiations is feigned and aimed at obtaining economic concessions to keep funding the war [17][39]. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre cast doubt on Trump's prediction of an imminent deal [30].
The format of the talks drew disagreement before they began. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU would be present at the Abu Dhabi talks alongside its partners [1][6]. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Europeans would be “well represented” and France would attend, insisting no agreement on European security architecture could be conceived without European involvement [12][26]. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said the EU must be a participant in any agreement for it to be implemented [31]. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Washington that any agreement must have the consent of NATO partners [50].
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected European participation, saying the talks would remain in a trilateral Russia-Ukraine-US format with separate channels for US-Europe and Ukraine-Europe coordination [7][20][27]. Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said “no one is going to invite them to the negotiating table” at this stage [10]. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the first agenda item was the security of Russia, Ukraine, and the wider region [9][53]. Peskov said security guarantees discussed at the talks “can only be mutual” [50].
Ukraine's delegation head, Rustem Umerov, announced that representatives of the E4 group (UK, France, Germany, Italy), NATO, and the European Commission would be in Abu Dhabi for separate coordination meetings, stressing the importance of keeping Europe in the diplomatic process [4][17][21]. Analyst Ulrich Bounat noted that Russia has always sought to keep Europeans out of talks it finds easier with Trump, but Europeans retain an indirect veto because sanctions relief and banking reconnection require their approval [16].
The territorial question remained a core point of contention. Peskov said Ukraine is “geographically already a different country” from 2022 and that “the reality on the ground is evident” [11]. The Kremlin insisted Russian control over the entire Donbas is a precondition for any peace deal, not a subject for negotiation [31]. Russian political analyst Marat Bashirov called the Abu Dhabi meeting technical and argued that real decisions would be shaped on the battlefield [46]. Peskov said Russia “needs peace, not a truce” [51].
Zelensky rejected Putin's demands to cede territory and limit Ukraine's military, saying security guarantees depend on what Western allies would do if Russia invaded again [10]. He insisted that security guarantees cannot be dictated by Russia and that limits on Ukraine's army and sovereignty are non-negotiable [17][39]. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Zelensky demanded a strict sequence: ending the war first, then Ukraine's security guarantees, then any European security architecture [48]. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said there can be “no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine or about European security without Europe” [48]. Kushner's reference to a “new European security architecture” drew concern, as the phrase is often used by Russian officials to mean reducing NATO's presence in front-line nations and limiting Ukraine's armed forces [15]. Political scientist Wolodymyr Fesenko warned that Trump administration negotiators approach the peace plan as businessmen seeking profit, creating risks for Ukraine [19].
Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia said he did not expect a breakthrough after such a long break but counted the resumption of talks as a success [8]. Analyst Hanna Shelest said European representatives would at best play an observing role and suspected Moscow uses the talks to stall [8]. Analysts Sam Greene and Mark Galeotti predicted no breakthrough before spring, with Greene arguing that negotiations are a means to end the war for the West but potentially a means to achieve victory for Putin [31]. Former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev dismissed the Russian delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky as “a team of amateurs, second- or third-echelon” figures not to be taken seriously [31]. Analyst Illja Kotow said the talks would focus on possible cessation of hostilities, sectoral or comprehensive ceasefires, and control mechanisms [19]. Ukrainian priorities included an energy ceasefire, Black Sea unblocking, prisoner exchanges, and preparation for a leaders' meeting [8][56]. A French strategic institute analysis examined whether an energy-strike truce was feasible, recalling two failed energy ceasefires without monitoring mechanisms and stressing the need for defined protected sites and a complaints channel [51].
India entered the diplomatic picture as Zelensky spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reaffirmed India's readiness to contribute to a peaceful resolution [49]. Zelensky said India is ready to mediate in establishing food corridors [49]. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Lavrov about the Ukraine conflict [49]. The UAE, hosting the talks, highlighted its record of 27 prisoner-exchange rounds and its role as a mediator [44].
Separate from the Ukraine track, US-Iran negotiations continued through Qatari and Turkish mediation. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Trump and Vice President JD Vance, with both sides describing the talks as positive [25][28]. Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin outlined a seven-point plan involving sanctions relief, access to frozen assets, IAEA engagement, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz [18][32]. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Tehran would “rain down hell” if attacks resumed and described a two-day proposal under which the US implements measures first and the Strait of Hormuz reopens on day two [23]. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iranian demands were “unacceptable, outrageous and unrealistic” and that a breakthrough was not imminent [23][40]. Trump said renewed US strikes were “very unlikely” if Tehran made progress on its nuclear program and reopened the Strait of Hormuz [40].
US envoys may travel to Moscow to meet Putin after the Abu Dhabi talks, according to an unnamed US official, and Washington will push Russia to accept a multilateral format [24]. Trump said he hopes to meet Putin and Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18–19 to discuss denuclearization, saying “We're trying to end the war in Iran”; the Wall Street Journal reported Putin proposed using a possible US-China-Russia meeting to discuss ending the war in Ukraine [42]. Finnish President Alexander Stubb outlined a staged process of working-level talks in Abu Dhabi, followed by a Putin-Zelensky meeting if results justify it [50].