US to mediate Ukraine-Russia working-level talks in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November

US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Monday, 2 November, a new round of US-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi. "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," he wrote on X. "Discussions will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace." Reuters and Axios reported the post on 2 and 3 November.

A senior US official told Reuters that Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a White House adviser, are expected to lead for Washington. The format is working-level and trilateral. The names of the Ukrainian and Russian delegations have not been published. Witkoff added that American negotiators "will meet this week in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the EU, and NATO" (the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Those meetings are a separate track.

What is announced and what is agreed

Nothing has been agreed. Axios reported that the parties remain far apart, particularly over territory. According to Geo.tv's background summary, Russia demands that Ukraine give up land Moscow claims to have annexed, while Kyiv rejects territorial concessions and wants firm security guarantees. The Diplomatic Insight, a single secondary outlet, described the agenda as largely technical. It listed a possible energy and maritime ceasefire, prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia.

Axios reported, citing US officials, that the effort had been suspended in February because of the war in Iran. The Kremlin confirmed a "situational pause" in March. Witkoff then met Zelensky in Oslo and Putin in St Petersburg, as Crisis.Zone reported. Reuters reported, citing the Kremlin, that Putin agreed to a new round after that meeting. Reuters also reported that US negotiators want a breakthrough before winter. The earlier tentative date of 4 November, which Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had announced, has given way to 10-11 November, according to the US side, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had phoned Putin on 27 October.

Axios reported that the White House hopes Putin will compromise after Trump agreed to lift sanctions on Russian diesel sales. UPI says they were temporarily eased. Axios added that Putin's only apparent concession is agreeing to resume talks.

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The week around the talks

Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine had intelligence that Russia was preparing a new massive attack on "energy and logistics." The Hill reported his assumption that "tomorrow the world will be watching the American midterms." The reports did not say Moscow had confirmed the claim.

Zelensky also said Russian strikes hit a humanitarian site. "Reports state 26 people have died, with some victims still stuck under the rubble," The Hill quoted him as saying. AP, citing military official Mykhailo Semikin, said Russian drone attacks hampered rescuers. Zelensky urged Washington to press Russia's oil and gas revenues, saying "America can do this." The sources do not link that appeal to the US easing of diesel sanctions.

A date and a venue are not a deal; the test is whether the Brussels and Abu Dhabi tracks converge. Three markers will show it. One is whether any ceasefire, energy, maritime or humanitarian deliverable is announced on 11 November. Another is whether Europeans are brought into the Abu Dhabi format. The third is whether the strikes Zelensky described materialise.