Kremlin confirms Abu Dhabi talks on November 10–11, with Medinsky leading Russia's team

Russia on Tuesday confirmed that US-mediated talks with Ukraine will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Reuters and RTÉ. Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian delegation.

What is on the table

• It will be the first trilateral meeting of Kyiv, Moscow and Washington since February, Reuters noted.
• US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who announced the dates, said on X that discussions would focus on “post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace”.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said a proposed energy ceasefire will be high on Ukraine’s agenda.

Kherson and a leaders’ summit

Separately, the White House said First Lady Melania Trump will bring Russian and Ukrainian representatives to Washington to discuss a local ceasefire in the Kherson region. A six-day truce around Russian-occupied Oleshky, which the White House said she brokered to allow residents to be evacuated, has ended.

Peskov also said the Kremlin hopes to finalise plans in the coming days for a meeting between the leaders of Russia, the US and China. CNBC noted earlier reports that such talks could take place without Zelenskyy at the table.

The confirmation came hours after one of Russia’s largest attacks on Ukraine’s power grid.