Witkoff sets November 10 date for Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi
U.S. officials will meet with European allies this week to define security guarantees before technical negotiations begin next month.
By James Mitchell ·
The United States will host working-level negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials in the United Arab Emirates. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced the schedule on Tuesday via the social media platform X. The talks are set for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi.
The agenda for the two-day session focuses on post-war security arrangements and de-escalation measures. Witkoff stated that the discussions will also cover humanitarian efforts and next steps toward peace. These meetings involve technocrats rather than senior national leaders. They represent the next phase in a diplomatic process that has been active since the war began on February 24, 2022.
Before the Abu Dhabi session begins, the American delegation will meet with European allies and NATO representatives. These consultations are scheduled for later this week. Officials from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will attend. The primary goal is to define future security guarantees for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently demanded such guarantees in any agreement with Russia.
Witkoff expressed optimism about the diplomatic trajectory. He cited earlier meetings in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg as foundational steps. The envoy stated the team looks forward to building on that progress to deliver lasting security for future generations.
The announcement follows a brief ceasefire in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson that ended on Sunday. The truce allowed for the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. It also enabled the evacuation of an undisclosed number of residents. Both the Ukrainian and Russian sides credited First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo with helping secure the pause in fighting.
Military activity continued despite the localized truce. Russian forces struck the southeast region of Zaporizhzhia overnight into Tuesday. Authorities reported that at least 29 people were killed in a single village. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, a Russian strike hit a medical facility. The attack injured 25 people and forced the evacuation of approximately 200 patients.
The Russian defense ministry claimed it executed a massive strike on energy facilities across Ukraine. It also targeted port infrastructure in the Odessa region. The mayor of Moscow stated that 500 Ukrainian drones heading toward the capital were destroyed overnight. These events occurred as diplomatic channels reopened for the upcoming November meetings.
