--- title: "Witkoff Declares 'Peace is Closer' After Abu Dhabi Talks, Faces Putin Meetings in Moscow" description: "US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated that after trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, peace has grown closer. On November 12, he and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin." date: 2026-11-12T08:02:26.498Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/witkoff-peace-closer-abu-dhabi-talks-moscow tags: [steve-witkoff, jared-kushner, abudhabi-talks, ukraine-russia, peace-talks, donald-trump] author: "Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Witkoff Declares 'Peace is Closer' After Abu Dhabi Talks, Faces Putin Meetings in Moscow ![US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff speaking during high-level diplomatic negotiations](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/12/vitkoff-o-nadezhde-na-mir-posle-peregovorov-v-abudabi/vitkoff-o-nadezhde-na-mir-posle-peregovorov-v-abudabi-1.webp) ## Key Points - Steve Witkoff stated that after the Abu Dhabi talks, peace has grown closer and there is hope for a sustainable settlement. - On November 12, Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow; a meeting with Vladimir Putin is expected in the first half of the day. - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow's course will be built on achieving the goals formulated by Putin in June 2024. - Following contacts with the Kremlin, the American special envoys are reportedly scheduled to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On November 12, 2026, US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, commenting on the outcomes of the trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Abu Dhabi, expressed hope that sustainable peace is drawing closer. The statement came on the day of the American special envoys' official visit to Moscow, where a meeting with Vladimir Putin is scheduled for the first half of the day. ### Witkoff's Statement: 'Peace Has Grown Closer' According to RBK-Ukraine, citing TASS, when asked to assess the prospects for ending the Russian-Ukrainian war, Witkoff replied that following the trilateral contacts in Abu Dhabi, he has hope that peace has indeed grown closer. Donald Trump's special envoy emphasized that the outcomes of the UAE negotiations provide grounds for optimism regarding a sustainable settlement. ### Visit to Moscow and Meeting with Putin On November 12, US President's special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on an official visit. In the first half of the day, their meeting with Vladimir Putin is expected to take place. The main purpose of the negotiations is stated to be the discussion of the results of the meeting between the delegations of Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Abu Dhabi, which took place the day before, on November 11. ### Moscow's Position: Course Toward Achieving Set Goals Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that it is specifically Witkoff and Kushner who can influence Vladimir Putin's position on issues related to the conflict. "Based on what he hears from the Americans, he will determine our further positions," the Russian diplomat said. Lavrov also noted that Moscow's further course will be structured to achieve the goals formulated by Vladimir Putin in June 2024. ### Further Schedule: Talks with Zelenskyy According to available data, after completing negotiations with the head of the Kremlin, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to travel for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Thus, the American special envoys are holding contacts with both sides of the conflict within a single visit. ### Context: 'Tough' Negotiations and the Truce Issue Earlier, RBK-Ukraine reported that the Russian side chose not to discuss a ceasefire with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction, in turn, explained why the new negotiations with Russia took place in a "tough" format. These details indicate that despite statements about "peace drawing closer," key settlement issues remain a subject of disagreement between the parties. ## Accounts differ ### Prospects for a ceasefire and the peace process after the Abu Dhabi talks - **US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff:** After the Abu Dhabi talks, peace has grown closer and there is hope for sustainable peace ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vitkoff-zrobiv-zayavu-nablizhennya-miru-pislya-1794469496.html)) - **Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov:** Moscow's further course will be structured on achieving the goals formulated by Putin in June 2024 ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vitkoff-zrobiv-zayavu-nablizhennya-miru-pislya-1794469496.html)) - **RBK-Ukraine:** Russia did not discuss a ceasefire with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vitkoff-zrobiv-zayavu-nablizhennya-miru-pislya-1794469496.html)) *Where they agree:* Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia took place in Abu Dhabi ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Уиткофф сделал заявление о приближении мира после переговоров в Абу-Даби](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vitkoff-zrobiv-zayavu-nablizhennya-miru-pislya-1794469496.html) - Primary source basis: Witkoff's statement, visit to Moscow on November 12, Lavrov's quotes, expected meeting with Zelenskyy, Russia's refusal to discuss a truce in Abu Dhabi, Arakhamia's comment. ## FAQ ### What did Steve Witkoff state after the Abu Dhabi talks? He expressed hope that following the trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Abu Dhabi, peace has grown closer and there are grounds for a sustainable settlement. ### Who arrived in Moscow on an official visit and when? On November 12, 2026, US President's special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow; their meeting with Vladimir Putin is expected in the first half of the day. ### What is the stated purpose of the negotiations in Moscow? To discuss the results of the meeting between the delegations of Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Abu Dhabi, which took place the previous day, November 11.