Abu Dhabi Peace Talks
European officials will attend upcoming U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in the United Arab Emirates, Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Sunday, according to NPR.
The negotiations are scheduled for Nov. 10–11 in Abu Dhabi, as confirmed by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in a post on X, China.org.cn reported.
The meetings mark the fourth round of talks brokered by the Trump administration and the first since discussions in Geneva this past February. Witkoff stated that the agenda will focus on postwar security arrangements, de-escalation efforts, humanitarian assistance, and next steps toward peace.
Paris Joins Brussels Meetings to Ensure Europe's Voice Is Heard
Barrot told French radio that Paris will participate to ensure Europe’s voice is heard, though he did not specify whether French officials would take part directly or observe. This development follows initial pushback from the Kremlin, which had insisted there could be no role for European powers at the meeting.
Ahead of the Abu Dhabi sessions, American negotiators planned meetings in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, Britain, the European Union, and NATO. According to China.org.cn, those discussions cover security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe’s post-war security architecture, and economic opportunities to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Vladimir Medinsky Leads Russian Delegation with New Officials
Russia’s delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hardline aide to Vladimir Putin who has participated in talks since March 2022. For the first time, Moscow’s team includes Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, alongside military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov and General Staff operations official Yury Zhigarlovsky.
The Institute for the Study of War suggested that some of these same Russian figures have previously sought to slow down negotiations or harden Moscow’s demands. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed caution regarding broader agreements referenced by U.S. President Trump, warning of parallels to the 1945 Yalta conference.
Ongoing Fighting Amid Diplomacy
Combat continues despite the diplomatic efforts. Zelenskyy reported that Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles at the Kyiv area overnight Saturday, with air defenses intercepting only four. In southern Ukraine, the death toll from a guided-bomb strike on an aid distribution site in Komyshuvakha rose to at least 55.
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