{
  "id": 19313948,
  "title": "Ukraine talks begin in UAE with focus on security guarantees, but doubts persist over breakthrough",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/ukraine-talks-begin-in-uae-with-focus-on-security-guarantees-but",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-10T09:21:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/11/10/ukraine-talks-to-focus-on-security-guarantees-as-doubts-persist-over-breakthrough/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "High-stakes talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine commenced in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, marking the first such discussions since February. The two-day deliberations, which include European participation, are expected to focus on security guarantees, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and prospects for a wider settlement. American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is also President Donald Trump's son-in-law, are leading the American delegation. The discussions will involve representatives from Ukraine, the EU, NATO, Germany, France, Britain and Italy. A US official stated that security guarantees, as well as long-term security architecture between Russia and Europe, would be key topics. However, the potential for a breakthrough remains uncertain, as both sides continue to attack each other's energy sites, with Russia demanding substantial territorial concessions from Ukraine. Kyiv insists on robust guarantees against future Russian aggression and has refused to cede any territory. The US official expressed optimism, stating that there is a chance to make serious progress in ending the war. Despite this, the prospect of a breakthrough remains uncertain, as both Russia and Ukraine continue to attack each other's energy infrastructure, and Russia is demanding major territorial concessions from Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine insists on strong guarantees against future Russian aggression and refuses to surrender any territory. The US official suggested that European involvement could help facilitate a resolution. Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, expressed hope that the talks would identify areas of common ground, acknowledging the complexity of the conflict and the need for difficult decisions. The talks come in the wake of President Trump's Republican Party's defeat in the US midterm elections, which occurred nearly two years after Trump took office with the promise of ending the war in Ukraine. During an interview on Sunday with 60 Minutes, Trump claimed that an agreement was close, stating that he believed they were \"very close to making a deal\" and that the outcome would result in a \"little bit different shaped Ukraine.\" However, some experts, such as Daniel Fried, former US assistant secretary of state for Europe during the George W Bush administration, argue that the White House is continuing to offer Russia concessions at Ukraine's and Europe's expense, without evidence that Moscow is genuinely interested in negotiations beyond its own terms. Fried contends that Kushner is presenting even more offers to Russia, using language favoring the Kremlin, and questions whether these efforts will yield any positive results. Matthew Boyse, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute's Centre on Europe and Eurasia, believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin holds the advantage in negotiations and has little incentive to compromise. Boyse suggests that Moscow sees President Trump as politically weakened following the midterms and increasingly eager to secure a diplomatic victory by ending the war. Boyse also points out that previous rounds of negotiations have primarily resulted in humanitarian outcomes, such as prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, but have failed to make progress on the fundamental disagreements preventing an end to the conflict.",
  "summary": "High-stakes talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine – the first since February – began in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, with European engagement. Security guarantees are expected to be central to the two-day discussions , alongside de-escalation, humanitarian measures and prospects for a wider settlement. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is also President Donald Trump's son-in-law, are set…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Politico EU",
        "title": "Who’s who for Europe at the Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/whos-who-for-europe-at-the-ukraine-talks-in-abu-dhabi",
        "published": "2026-11-09T17:41:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}