The United States is initiating a meeting of NATO partners, EU representatives, and Ukraine ahead of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi scheduled for November 10–11, 2026. According to RBC-Ukraine, US Presidential Special Envoy Jared Kushner announced this in a post on the X social network. He stated that President Donald Trump intends to end Russia's war against Ukraine, and Washington is making "significant efforts to find a negotiated solution that will ensure a lasting peace and create conditions for a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Ukraine within a more stable European environment."
Consultations with Partners Before Talks Begin
Kushner announced a meeting with European partners to be held directly before the start of the two-day trilateral talks involving Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi. The stated goal is to continue close consultations and coordination on European security and Ukraine's post-war future. Thus, Washington is attempting to synchronize allies' positions before direct dialogue with the Russian side begins.
First Trilateral Contacts Since February 2026
Trump's special envoy emphasized that the talks in Abu Dhabi will mark the first trilateral meetings since February 2026. He defined their task as "bringing Ukraine and Russia together to directly discuss their post-war concerns, proposals, and potential solutions." Kushner also noted that achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement will require the direct involvement of Russia and Europe in discussing broader security treaties.
Post-War Architecture and European Institutions
As part of the preparation for the talks, Kushner outlined the priorities of the upcoming dialogue, emphasizing the post-war dimension: according to him, an important part of the work is encouraging all parties to think seriously about what comes after the war. He stressed that existing European security treaties and institutions provide an important foundation for this work, and Washington's hope is to "make substantial progress, establish a practical path forward, and help create conditions for a lasting peace."
Diverging Assessments of Washington's Approach
At the same time, the US position faces reservations in Europe. RBC-Ukraine previously reported that Washington proposes discussing Europe's future security in conjunction with ending the war in Ukraine, but European officials see risks in this approach. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, stated that the new US idea for Europe's security architecture could pose risks for both the European continent and Ukraine. Thus, the parties currently hold divergent assessments regarding the format and content of post-war guarantees.
Context: Trump's Meeting with Dmitriev and Promise of a 'Grand Bargain'
Statements about a swift settlement came against the backdrop of Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin's envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, on November 5. According to the US president, a grand bargain could be achieved as part of ending the war in Ukraine, affecting not only Ukraine but extending beyond it. This underlines that Washington views the Abu Dhabi talks as part of a broader European settlement.
