Trump announces possible landmark Ukraine deal and trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi
Donald Trump said he held phone calls about ending the war in Ukraine and announced further talks, describing a possible agreement as a landmark deal that could encompass all of Europe. Jared Kushner said the United States would hold trilateral talks with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. The agenda is expected to include initial de-escalation steps in energy and at sea, prisoner exchanges and the possible format of a Kyiv-Moscow-Washington summit.
Key points
- Trump said Ukraine and Russia are ready for the first time to seek an agreement to end the war.
- Trump did not identify the participants in his phone calls.
- Trilateral US-Ukraine-Russia talks are scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi.
- Volodymyr Medinsky will lead the Russian delegation.
- The talks are expected to address de-escalation in energy and at sea and the release of prisoners.
- The parties may discuss a possible summit format involving Kyiv, Moscow and Washington.
- European capitals are skeptical of an opaque European security proposal involving Russia.
Why it matters
The proposed trilateral format could create a direct channel for progress toward ending the war, as it would be the first such meeting in the Ukraine-Russia-US format since February. The Abu Dhabi agenda also includes concrete steps: de-escalation in energy and maritime sectors, releasing prisoners and discussing a possible summit involving Kyiv, Moscow and Washington. However, the broader European security proposal remains opaque and has drawn skepticism from European capitals.
What happened
Trump said he had made several phone calls about ending the war in Ukraine and announced additional calls for the following day. He did not disclose whom he had spoken to but said meetings would take place on Sunday and Tuesday. According to Trump, Ukraine and Russia are now ready to negotiate and the prospective agreement could be broad enough to cover all of Europe. Kushner announced that trilateral talks involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia would take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. They are expected to focus on further steps toward peace, including initial de-escalation in energy and at sea, releasing prisoners and a possible format for a Kyiv-Moscow-Washington summit.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes the proposed practical steps rather than the broad agreement alone: de-escalation in energy and at sea, prisoner releases and the possible trilateral summit format. It also highlights incomplete information and potential security risks. Zelenskyy said he knew little about the proposed agreement and warned that it could prove dangerous, while Medinsky was identified as the head of the Russian delegation.
How international sources describe it
International coverage focuses on Trump's calls, the possibility of a Europe-wide agreement and the emerging architecture of European security. Kushner said the United States had held productive discussions with Ukraine, NATO and European partners on security guarantees, with NATO expected to play a key role. CNN raised the possibility that the proposed Shell Bay format could encourage Vladimir Putin to escalate the war, while European capitals warned that involving Russia in a new security system could marginalize Europe and strengthen Putin's position.
Where reporting differs
Trump portrayed Ukraine and Russia as ready for the first time to negotiate an agreement, while Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had no details about the deal announced by Trump. Zelenskyy also cautioned that the proposed agreement could be difficult to achieve and potentially dangerous.
Background
Trump held a private meeting with Vladimir Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House on November 5 but did not disclose the substance of their conversation. Kushner said the United States had discussed security guarantees for Ukraine and a broader European security architecture with Ukraine, NATO and European partners. He also said NATO would have a key role in the proposed system.