Washington called for a new security framework with Europe as delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States opened two days of talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, aimed at reviving diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
The negotiations mark the first meeting of their kind since February, according to L’Indépendant. The discussions bring Russian and Ukrainian delegations face-to-face in a strict trilateral format alongside American emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, as reported by Ouest-France.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that he coordinated positions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the meetings, as noted by Le Devoir. European officials, including representatives from France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, NATO, and the European Union, are present in the United Arab Emirates to engage in preliminary alignment meetings.
Before the start of the talks, the Ukrainian delegation met on Tuesday morning with American emissaries and representatives from the United Kingdom, the European Union, and NATO, as announced on Telegram by Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov.
The Kremlin insisted that the direct negotiations remain strictly trilateral between Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow. However, Jared Kushner indicated last week that the United States would consult closely with Europeans and aim for a broader multilateral format if progress materializes, according to Le Devoir.
Moscow demands that Ukraine withdraw troops from Donetsk, Louhansk, Zaporijia, and Kherson, renounce NATO membership, and accept military restrictions. Meanwhile, L’Indépendant noted that Washington reportedly floated proposals to modify administrative borders for Donetsk and Louhansk on official maps and to reopen European markets to Russian energy, ideas firmly rejected by Kyiv and European partners.
| Delegation / Actor | Key Representatives | Stated Position |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | Rustem Umerov | Demands ten-year aid, a standing force of 800,000, and territorial integrity. |
| Russia | Vladimir Medinsky, Sergei Ryabkov | Demands withdrawal from four annexed regions, NATO renunciation, and strict military limits. |
| United States | Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff | Mediating talks, exploring security guarantees and boundary adjustments. |
European and American representatives issued a joint declaration emphasizing that any future framework must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independent decision-making, as reported by Ouest-France.
The discussions continue on Wednesday, November 11, under pressure from an American legislative timeline following the November 3 midterm elections, according to L’Indépendant.
According to the White House, the session in Abu Dhabi will focus primarily on security guarantees. As Ukrainian delegation head Rustem Umerov wrote on Telegram, Nous sommes passés au format trilatéral Ukraine, États-Unis, Russie
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Earlier coverage: Russia, Ukraine, US Hold Trilateral Talks in Abu Dhabi
