The Kremlin announced on Friday that trilateral peace talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine will take place in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting, stating it would initially proceed in a trilateral format, though he did not rule out future inclusion of European representatives. The last such talks occurred in Geneva, Switzerland, in February.
Peskov emphasized that the negotiations would focus on security arrangements for Russia and Ukraine following a peace deal, calling it a critical element of any comprehensive settlement. He noted that broader discussions on European security architecture would require additional participants beyond the initial three nations. The Kremlin’s announcement followed a meeting in Saint Petersburg between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, which included discussions on humanitarian issues and prisoner exchanges.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky separately confirmed the talks, stating they would begin at a technical level before escalating to senior leadership. Zelensky stressed that U.S. involvement and pressure on Moscow would be essential for progress. The proposed timing aligns with Russia’s suggestion of discussions around November 10, while Zelensky called for the meetings to occur as soon as possible.
The announcement comes amid intensified diplomatic efforts by the U.S., including Witkoff’s meetings with Zelensky in Oslo and Putin in Saint Petersburg. During their discussions, Witkoff praised Putin’s role in releasing a detained American citizen, a moment that drew criticism from some commentators. The trilateral talks aim to address post-conflict security guarantees, though Putin clarified that the focus would not be on a short-term truce.
Neither the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to requests for comment ahead of the talks.