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Trump says Ukraine and Russia ready to agree on ending the war as Abu Dhabi talks are announced

Donald Trump said Ukraine and Russia are ready to reach an agreement to end the war and expressed optimism about the upcoming negotiations. Ukrainian negotiators do not share his optimism. Steve Witkoff announced that trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia talks will take place next week in Abu Dhabi, with the Russian delegation arriving on November 10-11.

Key points

  • Trump said Ukraine and Russia are ready to reach an agreement to end the war.
  • Ukrainian negotiators do not share Trump's optimism about reaching a deal.
  • Trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia talks will be held next week in Abu Dhabi.
  • The talks will focus on further steps toward peace.
  • The Russian delegation is due in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11.
  • Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian delegation.
  • Zelensky said he believes Russia is seriously preparing to meet the negotiating teams.

Why it matters

The Abu Dhabi talks could become the next stage of efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian negotiators assess the likelihood of a deal more cautiously, indicating uncertainty about the outcome. The participation of the Russian delegation and Zelensky's assessment of Moscow's intentions provide context for evaluating the prospects of the peace process.

What happened

Trump said Ukraine and Russia were ready to agree on ending the war and expressed optimism about the peace talks. Ukrainian negotiators did not share that optimism about the parties' ability to reach an agreement. Witkoff announced that trilateral talks in the Ukraine-US-Russia format would take place in Abu Dhabi next week, focusing on further steps toward peace. The Russian delegation is expected on November 10-11, led by Medinsky.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

Ukrainian sources emphasize the discrepancy between Trump's optimism and the assessment of Ukrainian negotiators. Their focus is on the planned Abu Dhabi talks, the participation of the Russian delegation and Zelensky's statement that Russia appears seriously prepared for the meeting.

Where reporting differs

Trump evaluates the prospects for the talks optimistically and believes the parties are ready to reach an agreement. Ukrainian negotiators do not share his optimism about the likelihood of a deal.

Background

The talks are scheduled in the trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia format in Abu Dhabi next week. The Russian delegation is expected to arrive on November 10-11, with Medinsky leading it. Zelensky said his conversation with European leaders and the Kremlin leader left him with the impression that Russia was seriously preparing to meet the negotiating teams. Trump also said the United States is not at war with Iran, unlike the situation involving Ukraine and other global conflicts.