Representatives of Ukraine, the United States and Europe began consultations in Abu Dhabi on 10 November ahead of planned three-way talks with Russia, Euronews reports. British representatives are among those taking part, with ending the fighting, post-war security guarantees and territorial disputes on the agenda.
The preliminary consultations do not mark the start of the formal meeting between Ukraine, Russia and the US. According to the BBC and Euronews, the planned three-way talks would be the first in that format since February.
Rustem Umerov, quoted by Euronews, said the consultations involved representatives of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission, alongside US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. European participation at this stage does not, however, establish that they will attend every subsequent round of talks.
Territory and security remain central
Umerov outlined four Ukrainian priorities: ending hostilities, securing post-war security guarantees, economic reconstruction and humanitarian issues. According to Euronews, President Volodymyr Zelensky also said Ukraine would put forward proposals for de-escalation and seek to establish arrangements for a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
The territorial dispute remains the most difficult issue. The BBC reports that Russia is demanding that Ukraine hand over the parts of the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control. Kyiv, by contrast, wants to freeze the front line and retain those areas.
The BBC quotes a US official as saying that Moscow and Kyiv have privately shown some flexibility on territory. That is the official’s assessment, rather than confirmation of specific concessions by either side. The reports do not set out any agreed changes in position.
The same official, quoted by both outlets, linked the possibility of resolving the territorial dispute to agreement on post-war security arrangements. Those arrangements remain a matter for negotiation, not a concluded deal.
Jared Kushner also cautioned against expecting an immediate breakthrough, suggesting that the meetings could primarily build momentum for the next stage of negotiations. For now, the confirmed development is the start of preparatory consultations—not an agreement or the opening of the full three-way talks.
