Ukraine, US and Russia to Hold Abu Dhabi Talks on Security Guarantees
Ukraine, the United States and Russia are scheduled to hold two days of talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, with postwar security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe among the central issues. No final agreements have been reached, and the exact format of European participation remains unresolved.
Key points
- The trilateral talks are scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Security guarantees for Ukraine and a postwar European security architecture are expected to be key topics.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the parties are reviewing initial proposals but have reached no final agreements.
- Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, is expected to lead the Ukrainian delegation.
- Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky is expected to head the Russian delegation.
- The Kremlin says the main meeting will exclude Europeans, while European representatives are expected to hold separate consultations.
- Ukraine and Russia remain far apart on territory, military limits, NATO membership and security guarantees.
Why it matters
The meeting could influence the proposed postwar security architecture for Ukraine and Europe at a time when no final agreement on security guarantees exists. Ukraine views credible guarantees as protection against another Russian invasion, while Russia insists on guarantees for itself and rejects possible European troop deployments in Ukraine. The unresolved issue of direct European and NATO participation also affects how any settlement may be implemented.
What happened
Ukraine, the United States and Russia are scheduled to hold a two-day negotiating session in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. Rubio said security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe will be central and that the parties are examining only initial proposals. He also argued that hostilities must stop before negotiations advance to the next stage, while expressing hope for progress. Lavrov said the talks will begin with security for Russia, Ukraine and the wider region. Umerov is expected to lead Ukraine's delegation, and Medinsky the Russian delegation, which is also expected to include Igor Kostyukov, Yuri Zhigarlovsky, Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes security guarantees, an immediate ceasefire as the first step and Ukraine's right to reject Russian demands to cede territory or accept military limits. It also highlights Ukraine's insistence on European participation and the European Commission's position that discussion of a new European security architecture should follow the end of the war.
How international sources describe it
International coverage presents the meeting as the first three-way round since February 2026 and highlights Trump's statements that the parties were close to an agreement and that a possible framework could extend across Europe. Substantial attention is also given to Russia's demand for its own security guarantees and its opposition to possible European troop deployments in Ukraine.
Where reporting differs
Initial reports identified Kyrylo Budanov as the head of Ukraine's delegation, but the Office of the President said Rustem Umerov would lead it and Budanov would participate as a member. The Kremlin said the main trilateral meeting would proceed without European participants, while reports said EU, NATO and European representatives would attend separately or through coordination meetings; the exact European format remained unresolved. Sources also differed on whether these were the first negotiations of this kind since February 2026 and whether earlier rounds produced visible progress.
Background
Earlier negotiation rounds produced no visible progress toward ending the war, while fighting and long-range drone and missile attacks continued. A localized truce around Oleshky lasted for one week and allowed some evacuations and humanitarian deliveries. Zelenskyy held a 90-minute conversation with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on November 4 about the planned talks. Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the EU and NATO were coordinating their positions, while Russia was reported to be sending a higher-ranking delegation than in previous rounds.