Despite Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukrainian cities and Vladimir Putin’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire, Washington is pressing ahead with a fresh round of diplomatic engagement aimed at ending the war.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that Jared Kushner and he will lead the American delegation at working-level negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi.
Witkoff announced the development via a post on X, stating: “The United States will mediate working-level negotiations between Ukraine and Russia on November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi, advancing President Trump’s mission to end the war.”
The agenda for the Abu Dhabi sessions covers post-war security arrangements, de-escalation measures, humanitarian concerns, and the broader pathway toward a lasting settlement.
Among the specific issues on the table are a potential energy and maritime ceasefire, exchanges of military and civilian prisoners, and efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
Separate from the Abu Dhabi talks, U.S. negotiators are heading to Brussels later this week for consultations with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and NATO.
Those Brussels discussions will center on security guarantees for Ukraine, the shape of Europe’s post-war security architecture, and the economic framework needed to support Ukrainian reconstruction.
The resumption of diplomacy follows a period of suspension dating back to February, when the outbreak of war in Iran interrupted earlier efforts, with the current push driven by meetings Witkoff and Kushner held with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin during October.
Zelensky met with Witkoff in Oslo, Norway, while Putin hosted the American envoy in St. Petersburg, with both leaders subsequently signaling openness to formal negotiations.
Zelensky has suggested that one or two rounds of technical discussions could create the conditions for a trilateral summit bringing together himself, Putin, and President Donald Trump.
Witkoff wrote that the U.S. is building on groundwork already laid, saying the goal is reaching “a comprehensive, durable peace agreement that delivers lasting security for generations to come.”
Trump has sought to encourage Russian flexibility by agreeing to lift sanctions on Russian diesel sales and taking additional steps that Moscow has welcomed, though Putin’s only tangible concession to date has been consenting to resume talks at all.
The two sides remain deeply divided on core questions, with territorial disputes presenting the most formidable obstacle to any negotiated outcome.
