Zelensky hopes for Ukraine-Russia-US talks by Nov. 10, but date remains unconfirmed
Ukraine’s president says he hopes for talks in Abu Dhabi between Nov. 6 and 10, while Washington has yet to confirm a date and the venue could change.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 28 in The Hague that he hoped planned talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the US would take place in Abu Dhabi between Nov. 6 and 10, according to The Kyiv Independent. Washington has yet to confirm a date, and Zelensky said the venue could change depending on the situation in the Middle East. The uncertainty leaves the next attempt to restart negotiations without an agreed timetable or assured location.
Speaking at a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Zelensky said he expected the US to be ready with answers after its midterm elections and to confirm a date around Nov. 4. The Kyiv Independent reported that the Kremlin had also yet to confirm a timeline.
Technical talks could come before a leaders’ summit
Zelensky said one or two rounds of technical talks could pave the way for a meeting involving himself, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Kyiv Independent reported. The proposed technical agenda includes a possible energy and maritime ceasefire, exchanges of military and civilian captives, and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. These are subjects for discussion, rather than agreed measures.
Territory is another expected point of contention. The Kyiv Independent reported that Moscow and Washington were expected to prioritise territorial issues, while Zelensky said decisions on them could only be made at the leaders’ level. The planned meeting follows a renewed US effort to revive negotiations that had effectively stalled. The outlet reported that Moscow continued to demand that Kyiv cede Donbas, a strategically important eastern region Russian forces have not fully captured, and had repeatedly rejected proposals for a full, unconditional ceasefire that Kyiv supported.
Trump also points to talks, without setting a date
Separately, Trump told reporters early on Oct. 28 that a meeting involving Putin and Zelensky would be arranged soon, according to Bloomberg reporting republished by The Straits Times. He said he thought progress was being made on the Russia-Ukraine war but gave no date or other details. Trump also said talks might take place ‘not necessarily through a meeting,’ leaving the format of any engagement unclear.
The Kyiv Independent reported that Ukrainian officials did not expect a major breakthrough from talks in Abu Dhabi. They hoped instead that the discussions would restore regular negotiations. Whether the proposed technical rounds happen first, and whether they lead to a leaders’ summit, depends on a timetable the parties have yet to settle.
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Sources and context
- Zelensky expects trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi by Nov. 10, but no firm date setThe Kyiv Independent
- Trump says meeting with Ukraine’s Zelensky and Putin will be set up soonBloomberg, republished by The Straits Times
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.