U.S., Ukrainian and Russian negotiators resumed the Abu Dhabi peace talks on November 11, opening a second day of discussions on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said the three delegations would meet first, followed by a separate meeting between the Ukrainian team and its European partners.
Kyiv and Washington described the earlier discussions as constructive. However, negotiators shared few details afterward, and there was no early sign of a breakthrough. Ukraine and Russia entered the talks with sharply different positions on the terms of a possible settlement.
Security and Humanitarian Issues Are on the Agenda
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the earlier discussions covered security and humanitarian issues. He also said negotiators could discuss a possible meeting between the U.S., Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
Neither Zelenskyy nor Russian President Vladimir Putin is attending the Abu Dhabi talks. Their delegations are handling the discussions, and a leaders’ meeting remains a possibility.
Ukraine Plans a Separate Meeting With European Partners
Umerov outlined two sets of meetings for the second day. The first brings Ukraine, Russia and the United States back to the same table. The second gives Ukraine a chance to speak separately with European partners.
The talks have resumed, but the parties have yet to announce a settlement. The immediate question is whether the second day will produce concrete steps on the security or humanitarian issues raised in the earlier discussions.
