The United States will mediate a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, according to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The negotiations aim to establish "lasting security for generations to come," Witkoff stated.
Discussions will center on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation efforts, humanitarian initiatives, and the subsequent steps toward achieving peace. Ahead of these talks, U.S. negotiators are scheduled to meet in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and NATO. These preliminary discussions will address security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe's post-war security architecture, and economic opportunities for Ukraine's reconstruction.
These upcoming negotiations build upon previous diplomatic efforts, including discussions held in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg, as the U.S. continues its mission to broker an end to the conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Witkoff expressed anticipation for building on the progress made in earlier diplomatic engagements.
U.S. officials have indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed openness to freezing front lines in exchange for security guarantees, a development that follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's agreement to resume peace talks. Former President Donald Trump had previously suggested that efforts to resolve the war were progressing, noting that both sides appeared amenable to an end to the conflict.