US Envoy Sets Date for Russia-Ukraine Talks in Abu Dhabi

US President Donald Trump has tasked his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff with advancing a diplomatic track aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The next step in this process is scheduled to take place in the coming days.

Witkoff confirmed on X that working-level negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will occur in Abu Dhabi from November 10 to 11. The United States will act as the mediator for these sessions. The agenda will cover post-war security arrangements, de-escalation measures, and humanitarian efforts.

The timing of these talks follows a series of diplomatic moves over the past month. In late October, Witkoff met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo to discuss territorial issues and security. Shortly after, he traveled to St Petersburg to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier in October, Zelenskyy stated that a trilateral meeting of technical teams was planned for early November, though he noted the scheduling depended on the US side.

Alongside the Abu Dhabi dates, Witkoff announced that US negotiators will meet with representatives from France, Germany, the UK, the EU, and NATO in Brussels this week. These discussions will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe's post-war security architecture. The group will also examine economic opportunities to support Ukraine's reconstruction.

Witkoff said the US looks forward to building on the progress made in Kyiv, Oslo, and St Petersburg toward a comprehensive peace agreement. Zelenskyy has recently indicated he is ready to meet Putin and Trump in Istanbul to discuss terms for ending the war. The upcoming Brussels and Abu Dhabi meetings will determine the next steps in that process.

The US delegation will begin its Brussels discussions this week before the Abu Dhabi talks begin on November 10.