US to Bring Ukraine and Russia Back to the Negotiating Table in Abu Dhabi

The United States will mediate a new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November, according to US special envoy Steve Witkoff. The announcement marks the resumption of Washington’s diplomatic efforts to bring the two countries towards an agreement after negotiations stalled earlier this year. Witkoff said the discussions would focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and the next steps towards ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The American delegation is expected to include Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and one of the administration’s principal diplomatic representatives. Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to resume trilateral negotiations following his meeting with Witkoff in St Petersburg in October. The Kremlin subsequently confirmed that the Russian delegation would participate in the Abu Dhabi talks, with presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky continuing as Moscow’s chief negotiator.

The meeting is expected to take place against the backdrop of renewed American efforts to secure progress before winter. The previous round of US-mediated trilateral negotiations took place in February, before the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran disrupted the diplomatic process. Although earlier meetings produced progress on certain humanitarian issues, including prisoner exchanges, they failed to establish the political conditions necessary for a comprehensive settlement.

Security Guarantees Remain the Central Obstacle

The negotiations are expected to address security arrangements that could underpin a potential settlement. For Ukraine, the central concern remains preventing Russia from launching another invasion after any ceasefire or peace agreement. Kyiv has repeatedly argued that a diplomatic settlement without credible and enforceable security guarantees would leave the country vulnerable to renewed Russian aggression.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has advocated American security commitments comparable in their practical effect to NATO’s collective defence provisions. Ukraine has also discussed bilateral guarantees from Washington and a European-led security framework supported by the United States. Zelensky has emphasised that such commitments should be backed by concrete political and institutional mechanisms rather than assurances dependent on the administration currently occupying the White House.

Moscow’s position remains fundamentally different. Russia has sought restrictions on Ukraine’s future military capabilities and its NATO ambitions, while continuing to demand territorial concessions. Ukraine has rejected the prospect of surrendering territory as the price of peace, arguing that such an arrangement would reward Russian aggression and create incentives for further expansion.

These competing positions leave little room for an immediate comprehensive agreement. The negotiations may therefore concentrate on technical arrangements, humanitarian measures and the possibility of reducing hostilities, while the fundamental disagreements over sovereignty, territorial integrity and the future European security architecture remain unresolved.

Europe Seeks a Greater Role in Ukraine’s Future

The Abu Dhabi negotiations will be preceded by discussions in Brussels involving American representatives and officials from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union and NATO. The meetings are expected to address security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe’s future security framework and economic support for Ukrainian reconstruction.

The consultations reflect Europe’s concern that a settlement negotiated primarily between Washington and Moscow could determine the continent’s security environment without sufficient European participation. European governments have invested heavily in Ukraine’s defence and remain directly exposed to the consequences of any agreement affecting Russia’s military position, NATO’s eastern flank and the security of neighbouring states.

France and the United Kingdom have also continued preparations for a potential multinational force intended to support Ukraine after a ceasefire. An exercise involving approximately 2,800 troops from ten European countries is scheduled to take place in south-eastern Poland from 9 to 22 November. The initiative is intended to test the deployment of a multinational force across land, air and maritime domains. Its deployment would depend on the cessation of hostilities and the establishment of an agreed framework for post-war security.

The preparations demonstrate that European governments are attempting to develop practical mechanisms for supporting Ukraine beyond the immediate battlefield. However, the effectiveness of any future arrangement will depend on the extent of American involvement, the political commitments made by participating countries and the conditions under which a ceasefire could be maintained.

Diplomacy Amid Continued Military Pressure

The renewed diplomatic initiative comes as Russia continues to attack Ukrainian infrastructure. Russian forces have struck energy facilities and port infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions, according to Russian military statements. The reports concerning the extent of the damage have not been independently verified. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly damaged an oil refinery in the Russian city of Yaroslavl, where local authorities reported injuries among employees and a fire at the facility.

The military situation complicates Washington’s efforts to establish a negotiating framework. Both sides continue to pursue objectives on the battlefield while preparing for diplomatic engagement, raising questions about whether the forthcoming talks will produce substantive concessions or primarily serve as a mechanism for maintaining communication.

The recent humanitarian ceasefire around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson region offered a limited example of cooperation. The temporary arrangement reportedly facilitated the evacuation of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. However, Ukraine subsequently accused Russian forces of using the pause to rotate personnel, strengthen defensive positions and improve battlefield logistics. Moscow dismissed the criticism, describing the adjustment of military positions during a ceasefire as standard practice.

The episode illustrates the difficulties of translating limited humanitarian agreements into broader military de-escalation. Even arrangements intended to protect civilians can become entangled in competing military calculations when neither side trusts the other to respect the terms of a temporary pause.

A Negotiating Process Without a Clear Breakthrough

The Abu Dhabi meeting will test whether Washington can restart a diplomatic process that has repeatedly struggled to bridge the gap between Russian and Ukrainian demands. The Trump administration has continued to pursue an agreement, but pressure on Kyiv to accept a settlement has not produced a corresponding indication that Moscow is prepared to abandon its principal territorial and security demands.

For Ukraine, the principal challenge is ensuring that negotiations do not undermine its sovereignty or leave it exposed to another Russian attack. For Europe, the question is whether its governments can translate their economic and military support for Kyiv into meaningful participation in decisions affecting the continent’s security.

The immediate outcome may be limited to renewed negotiations, humanitarian arrangements or agreement on further meetings. A comprehensive settlement would require substantially more than the resumption of diplomatic contact: it would depend on Russia’s willingness to accept a viable ceasefire, Ukraine’s ability to secure credible guarantees and the participation of European states in a durable security framework.