Curated by Vishaljeet Singh, Lisbon, Portugal
The United States is preparing to bring Russian and Ukrainian delegations together in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11 for a new round of trilateral negotiations aimed at ending the war. The proposed discussions are expected to focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and the next steps towards a possible peace agreement.
The announcement, made by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, signals a renewed diplomatic push by Washington as winter approaches and the conflict continues to shape European security and international politics.
What is planned for Abu Dhabi?
The United States will mediate working-level negotiations between Ukraine and Russia on November 10–11. Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to represent Washington, according to a senior US official. Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to another round of trilateral discussions after meeting Witkoff in St Petersburg.
The talks are intended to address several connected issues: how to end the fighting, what security arrangements could follow a settlement, how to reduce military tensions and what humanitarian steps could be agreed. The meeting is a negotiating opportunity, not an announcement that a ceasefire or peace agreement has been reached.
Why the negotiations matter now
Diplomatic efforts are being renewed ahead of another winter of war. Continued fighting carries serious consequences for civilians, infrastructure, energy systems and the wider European economy. A credible process could create space for humanitarian arrangements and reduce the risk of further escalation.
The previous US-mediated round took place in February, before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran. The latest initiative follows months of diplomatic disruption and renewed efforts by Washington to bring Moscow and Kyiv back to direct discussions.
Security guarantees remain a central obstacle
For Ukraine, any settlement will need to address the risk of another Russian attack in the future. Kyiv has consistently sought reliable security guarantees and clarity about the role of its international partners after the fighting ends.
Questions remain over who would provide those guarantees, what form they would take and how they would be enforced. These issues are politically sensitive because they could shape Ukraine’s long-term defence policy and the security balance across Europe.
Europe seeks a place in the security discussion
Before the Abu Dhabi meeting, US negotiators are expected to hold working-level discussions in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union and NATO. The agenda is expected to include Ukraine’s security guarantees, Europe’s future security framework and economic support for reconstruction.
European involvement matters because a settlement would directly affect the continent’s defence planning, borders, energy security and long-term relations with Russia. European governments are likely to seek a meaningful role in any arrangements that could determine the region’s future security.
Why a peace breakthrough is not guaranteed
Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on the terms of a possible settlement. Territorial questions, security guarantees, military arrangements and the future political position of Ukraine remain difficult issues. Bringing delegations to the same table does not mean either side has accepted the other’s conditions.
Washington is seeking progress before winter, while President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Kyiv to reach an agreement. Any durable settlement, however, will depend on whether both Moscow and Kyiv consider the proposed terms acceptable and whether commitments can be monitored and implemented.
What the world should watch
- Whether the November 10–11 meeting takes place as scheduled and produces a follow-up negotiating framework.
- Whether the parties make progress on security guarantees for Ukraine.
- Whether European governments are included in shaping post-war security arrangements.
- Whether practical humanitarian steps or de-escalation measures can be agreed.
- Whether Moscow and Kyiv show flexibility on the core issues separating them.
A diplomatic opening, not yet a settlement
The planned Abu Dhabi negotiations offer a fresh opening for diplomacy, but the distance between the Russian and Ukrainian positions remains substantial. Their significance will be measured by concrete progress, not simply by the fact that another meeting has been arranged.
For the United States, Europe and countries watching the conflict from outside the region, the central question is whether negotiations can produce a framework that protects Ukraine’s future security, addresses the wider European balance and creates a realistic path towards ending the war.
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