--- title: "US Cautiously Optimistic: Washington Expects Progress in Abu Dhabi Talks, But Not a Peace Agreement" description: "Ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks on November 10–11, Washington speaks of a \"real chance\" for progress but does not expect a peace agreement. Kyiv does not expect a breakthrough in the first round." date: 2026-11-09T19:34:55.457Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-expects-progress-abu-dhabi-talks tags: [ukraine-russia-talks, abu-dhabi, us-diplomacy, security-guarantees, ceasefire] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # US Cautiously Optimistic: Washington Expects Progress in Abu Dhabi Talks, But Not a Peace Agreement ![Jared Kushner and another official stand outside a building during preparations for talks](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/09/ssha-ochikayut-progressa-na-peregovorah-v-abu-dabi/ssha-ochikayut-progressa-na-peregovorah-v-abu-dabi-1.webp) ## Key Points - The US is "cautiously optimistic" and sees a "real chance" for serious progress at the November 10–11 Abu Dhabi talks. - A final peace agreement is not expected after the first round; the ceasefire issue will not be discussed on the first day. - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Ukraine's security guarantees a key topic and the cessation of hostilities the primary task. - The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov; Kyiv does not expect a breakthrough in the first round, placing hopes in the second. American officials have shared Washington's expectations with journalists ahead of the trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia negotiations set for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi. According to Radio Liberty correspondent Alex Raufoglu, reported by RBC-Ukraine, sources in the White House and State Department speak of a “real chance” to achieve “serious progress” in ending the war. At the same time, Washington has explicitly stated that a final agreement is not expected at the end of the first round of meetings. ### “Cautious Optimism” and Possible Further Contacts US officials described their position as “cautiously optimistic.” According to American officials, in the event of positive momentum in Abu Dhabi, further meetings involving Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could take place in the near future — their format and timing, Washington emphasizes, will depend on the progress achieved during the first round. ### What is Excluded from the First Round Kyiv is approaching the initial meetings with restraint. David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction, stated that Ukraine does not expect a breakthrough during the first round of talks with the US and Russia, though certain hopes are pinned on the second round. It was specifically noted that the issue of a ceasefire will not be discussed at the November 10 meetings — it has been excluded from the initial agenda. ### Security Guarantees as a Key Topic US Secretary of State Marco Rubio named Ukraine's security guarantees as one of the central topics of the negotiation process. According to him, the issue of the future post-war security system for Ukraine and the entire European continent has been raised at every stage of the negotiations. Rubio also explained that the progress mentioned by US President Donald Trump is linked, among other things, to developing the post-war security architecture, while the primary task remains the cessation of hostilities — only after that can the parties move on to the next stages. ### Parallel Contacts and Delegation Composition US Presidential Special Envoy Jared Kushner reported that before the start of the peace talks in Abu Dhabi, Washington is convening a separate meeting with NATO partners, EU representatives, and Ukraine to discuss the post-war security architecture. According to Ukrainian media, the Ukrainian delegation at the trilateral talks will be led by Rustem Umerov; Kyiv emphasizes that they do not count on a breakthrough on the first day, but view Abu Dhabi as a platform to cement agreements on the next steps. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [США ожидают прогресса на переговорах в Абу-Даби, но без мирного соглашения, - СМИ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-ochikuyut-progresu-peregovorah-abu-dabi-1794252351.html) - Primary source: statements by US officials via Alex Raufoglu, "cautious optimism," absence of an agreement, Arakhamia's position, Kushner's role. - [Госсекретарь США назвал один из главных вопросов переговоров по Украине](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/11/09/novost/politika/gossekretar-ssha-nazval-odin-glavnyx-voprosov-peregovorov-ukraine) - Marco Rubio's statement on security guarantees as a key topic and cessation of hostilities as the primary task; aligns with the basis. - [В Абу-Даби завершились переговоры в формате Украина – США – РФ. 1443-й день полномасштабной войны](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0/20260205-%D0%B2%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%85%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%85-%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%B2-%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0-%E2%80%93-%D1%81%D1%88%D0%B0-%E2%80%93-%D1%80%D1%84-%D0%B2-%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%83-%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%B8-1443-%D0%B9-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BD%D1%8B) - The source describes the talks as concluded and mentions an exchange of 314 prisoners; this contradicts the current date of November 9, 2026, when the November 10–11 meetings have not yet taken place. Omitted from the text to avoid chronological error. - [Умеров возглавит делегацию Украины на переговорах с РФ в Абу-Даби: Буданов рассказал, ожидают ли ...](https://www.obozrevatel.com/section-politics-news/news-budanov-ocholyt-delehatsiyu-ukrayiny-na-perehovorakh-iz-rf-v-abu-dabi-chy-ochikuyut-na-proryv-06-11-2026.html) - Composition of the Ukrainian delegation (Rustem Umerov) and lack of expectations for a breakthrough; aligns with Arakhamia's position. ## FAQ ### Is a peace agreement expected to be signed after the Abu Dhabi talks? No. According to American officials and Ukrainian authorities, a final agreement is not expected following the first round on November 10–11; the focus is on potential progress. ### Will the ceasefire be discussed on November 10? No, the ceasefire issue will not be discussed at the November 10 meetings, although US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the cessation of hostilities a primary overall task. ### Who will lead the Ukrainian delegation? The Ukrainian delegation at the Abu Dhabi talks will be led by Rustem Umerov. ### What is considered the key topic in the negotiations? Ukraine's security guarantees and Europe's post-war security architecture remain one of the key topics at every stage of the talks, according to Marco Rubio.