U.S., Russia and Ukraine to resume peace talks in Abu Dhabi next week, Witkoff says

U.S., Russia, and Ukraine are set to convene peace talks in Abu Dhabi from November 10-11, aiming to finalize an accord for ending the ongoing conflict. This development comes as a result of recent discussions between President Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The White House anticipates that President Putin will be more inclined to make concessions following Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel sales and implement other measures favorable to Moscow. However, significant gaps remain, especially regarding territorial issues. Russia's ongoing assaults on Ukrainian cities and Putin's unwillingness to accept a ceasefire raise concerns about the likelihood of meaningful progress.

Ukrainian President Zelensky disclosed on Monday that intelligence suggests Russia is preparing a large-scale assault on Ukrainian energy and logistics infrastructure on Tuesday, coinciding with global attention on the American midterms. U.S. delegation heads Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will spearhead the talks in Abu Dhabi.

The discussions will center on post-war security frameworks, de-escalation strategies, humanitarian aid, and subsequent steps towards peace, according to Witkoff. Additionally, lower-level U.S. officials will convene in Brussels this week with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the EU, and NATO to deliberate on security assurances for Ukraine, Europe's post-war security framework, and economic prospects to aid Ukraine's reconstruction.

Witkoff expressed optimism, stating that the team eagerly anticipates advancing the advancements made in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg towards a comprehensive, enduring peace arrangement that guarantees lasting security for future generations.