Ukraine, Russia and the US hold first trilateral talks since February in Abu Dhabi; Rubio calls them “very productive”
The first day of US-mediated talks ended after about four hours and will resume on 11 November; Kyiv wants to discuss security guarantees, prisoner exchanges and a possible energy and maritime ceasefire.
Delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States held their first three-way talks since February in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, 10 November. The first day ended after about four hours, and the sides are expected to meet again on 11 November, the press office of Ukraine’s delegation head Rustem Umerov said, according to the Kyiv Independent and AP.
Who is at the table
The US delegation is led by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Ukraine is represented by Umerov, head of its Foreign Intelligence Service; Russia’s team includes deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin. At Russia’s insistence, European officials are not directly taking part, but the Ukrainian delegation is briefing them separately, The Guardian reported.
What each side wants
Umerov said Kyiv’s priorities are “ending the fighting, securing reliable postwar security guarantees, ensuring Ukraine’s economic recovery and development, and taking humanitarian steps.” According to the Kyiv Independent, Ukraine hopes to discuss prisoner exchanges and a possible maritime and energy ceasefire. Russia wants the talks to focus on postwar European security, with Ukraine as just “one aspect,” Reuters reported, as cited by Meduza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the talks “very productive” but said there was still a lot of work to do. Territory remains the hardest issue: Ukraine wants Russian forces pushed back to the internationally recognised border, while Moscow demands all of Donbas.
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