The Library Media — National & World · World Desk
By Maya Wilson
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Russian and Ukrainian officials are set to resume U.S.-backed talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, marking the first U.S.-mediated meeting between the sides since February, according to Reuters. Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Ukrinform have also reported the planned resumption of the negotiations.
The United States is bringing the delegations together for discussions aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. Reuters reported that the agenda is expected to include post-war security agreements, de-escalation and humanitarian measures, alongside efforts to end the fighting. Al Jazeera has also identified security guarantees as a major subject expected to feature in the discussions.
Reuters reported that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced the November 10–11 meeting in Abu Dhabi. Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to represent Washington as the lead U.S. negotiators, according to a senior U.S. official quoted by Reuters.
The talks will bring together representatives of Russia and Ukraine with U.S. officials acting as mediators. Reuters described the format as trilateral, with the United States hosting the two delegations in an effort to move negotiations forward.
The meetings mark the first U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine since February, Reuters reported. The previous round took place before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran, which subsequently interrupted the negotiating process.
According to Reuters, the U.S. agenda includes discussions of post-war security agreements and de-escalation, as well as humanitarian measures. Witkoff said the talks would cover those issues and the broader objective of ending the war. Al Jazeera’s reporting also highlighted security guarantees as an important part of the discussions.
The planned negotiations come after months without this format of direct U.S.-mediated engagement. Reuters reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a new round of trilateral talks after meeting Witkoff in St. Petersburg.
The reports establish that the parties are returning to negotiations and identify the stated subjects for discussion. They do not establish that Russia and Ukraine have agreed on any specific settlement, territorial arrangement or security guarantee.
No ceasefire agreement has been announced in connection with the resumption of the talks. Nor have the parties publicly confirmed any concessions or agreed terms that would determine how the war might end.
The distinction is important: the meetings are scheduled, the participants and U.S. mediators have been identified in Reuters’ reporting, and the stated purpose is to advance efforts to end the war. The outcome remains unknown.
The two-day discussions in Abu Dhabi are therefore a renewed diplomatic effort, not evidence that an agreement has already been reached. Further developments will depend on what the delegations discuss and what, if anything, they are prepared to announce afterward.
— Maya Wilson, World Desk, The Library Media
About the author: Maya Wilson is the intelligence lead of The Library and lead of the World desk at The Library Media.