New rounds of trilateral peace negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States will be held on Nov. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Nov. 3.
Witkoff said the discussions would focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps toward peace. "We look forward to building on the progress made in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg toward a comprehensive, durable peace agreement that delivers lasting security for generations to come," he wrote on X.
Ukrainian, American and Russian officials have for weeks been working to establish new rounds of peace talks. President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin both expressed willingness to hold negotiations after meeting Witkoff in Oslo, Norway, and St. Petersburg, respectively, in October.
According to Zelensky, one or two rounds of technical talks could pave the way for a trilateral summit involving himself, US President Donald Trump and Putin. Zelensky and Putin have not held direct talks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The agenda for the technical negotiations would cover a potential energy and maritime ceasefire, exchanges of military and civilian captives, and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The strategically important Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in eastern Ukraine remain central to the negotiations: the Kremlin has repeatedly rejected a ceasefire and demanded that Kyiv surrender the parts of those regions that Russian forces have failed to capture. Ukraine, by contrast, has called for a ceasefire along the current front line.
Zelensky has stressed the need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine in any deal aimed at ending the war. "Our security guarantees are our guarantees, and they cannot be dictated by the Russian side," he said on Oct. 25. "Restrictions on our army and Ukraine's neutrality are not up for discussion."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed uncertainty about whether a negotiated peace deal between Ukraine and Russia is possible, speaking at a G20 foreign ministers meeting on Oct. 31. "I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable in Ukraine; that's what we're trying to find out," Rubio told reporters at a press conference. "I don't think anyone here is claiming that we're on the verge of a negotiated settlement," he added.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Nov. 10-11 meeting in Abu Dhabi would be the first formal trilateral round since Ukrainian, US and Russian officials began working to set up new talks, and it puts the question of a ceasefire back on the table after months of fighting.
- The gap between the two sides remains wide: the Kremlin wants Kyiv to cede territory its forces have not captured, while Ukraine wants a ceasefire along the current front line and security guarantees not dictated by Moscow.
- Any technical progress could open the way to a summit involving Zelensky, Trump and Putin, which would be their first direct engagement since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Background
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Zelensky and Putin have not held direct talks since. Diplomatic activity has picked up in recent weeks: Witkoff met Zelensky in Oslo and Putin in St Petersburg in October, and both leaders subsequently indicated willingness to negotiate. The United States is involved as a third party in the trilateral format now scheduled for Abu Dhabi. Washington's own assessment of the prospects remains cautious, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying publicly that he does not know whether a negotiated peace is achievable.
Key Perspectives
Steve Witkoff: says the Abu Dhabi discussions will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps toward peace, building on progress made in Kyiv, Oslo and St Petersburg.
Volodymyr Zelensky: says one or two rounds of technical talks could pave the way for a trilateral summit, and that Ukraine's security guarantees cannot be dictated by Russia and restrictions on its army and neutrality are not up for discussion.
The Kremlin: has repeatedly rejected a ceasefire and demanded that Kyiv surrender the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts that Russian forces have failed to capture.
Marco Rubio: says he does not know if negotiated peace is achievable in Ukraine and that no one is claiming a negotiated settlement is imminent.
What to Watch
- The Nov. 10-11 talks in Abu Dhabi, and whether they produce agreement on an energy and maritime ceasefire, prisoner exchanges or the return of Ukrainian children.
- Whether the technical rounds lead to the trilateral summit Zelensky has described, and whether Putin agrees to attend.
- Any shift in the Kremlin's territorial demands or in Ukraine's position on the front line, which would signal whether the gap between the two sides is narrowing.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedRussia, Ukraine and the US are scheduled to hold new rounds of trilateral peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11.Kyiv Independent: “U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Nov. 3 that new rounds of trilateral peace negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. will be held on Nov. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi.”
- SupportedWitkoff announced the talks on Nov. 3.Kyiv Independent: “U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Nov. 3 that new rounds of trilateral peace negotiations”
- SupportedWitkoff said the discussions would focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and next steps toward peace.Kyiv Independent: “"Discussions will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace," Witkoff wrote on X.”
- SupportedWitkoff said, “We look forward to building on the progress made in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg toward a comprehensive, durable peace agreement that delivers lasting security for generations to come.”Kyiv Independent: “"We look forward to building on the progress made in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg toward a comprehensive, durable peace agreement that delivers lasting security for generations to come," Witkoff said.”
- SupportedRubio said he did not know whether a negotiated peace in Ukraine was achievable.Kyiv Independent: “"I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable in Ukraine; that's what we're trying to find out," Rubio told reporters at a press conference.”
- SupportedRubio said, “I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable in Ukraine; that's what we're trying to find out.”Kyiv Independent: “"I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable in Ukraine; that's what we're trying to find out," Rubio told reporters at a press conference.”
- SupportedRubio said, “I don't think anyone here is claiming that we're on the verge of a negotiated settlement.”Kyiv Independent: “"I don't think anyone here is claiming that we're on the verge of a negotiated settlement," he added.”
- SupportedZelensky said, “Our security guarantees are our guarantees, and they cannot be dictated by the Russian side.”Kyiv Independent: “"Our security guarantees are our guarantees, and they cannot be dictated by the Russian side," Zelensky said on Oct. 25.”
- SupportedZelensky said, “Restrictions on our army and Ukraine's neutrality are not up for discussion.”Kyiv Independent: “"Restrictions on our army and Ukraine's neutrality are not up for discussion."”
- SupportedZelensky and Putin expressed willingness to hold negotiations after meeting Witkoff in Oslo and St. Petersburg, respectively, in October.Kyiv Independent: “President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin both expressed willingness to hold negotiations after meeting with Witkoff in Oslo, Norway, and St. Petersburg, respectively, in October.”
- SupportedAccording to Zelensky, one or two rounds of technical talks could pave the way for a trilateral summit involving Zelensky, Trump and Putin.Kyiv Independent: “According to Zelensky, one or two rounds of technical talks could pave the way for a trilateral summit involving himself, U.S. President Donald Trump , and Putin.”
- SupportedThe technical negotiations’ agenda would include a potential energy and maritime ceasefire, exchanges of military and civilian captives, and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.Kyiv Independent: “The agenda of the technical negotiations would concern a potential energy and maritime ceasefire, exchanges of military and civilian captives, and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia .”