On November 10, following a long break, the trilateral negotiation format between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia resumed. The negotiation teams of the three countries met in Abu Dhabi, and as of 5:00 PM, the first round of consultations had already concluded. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who participated in a discussion at the University of Copenhagen that same day, the Ukrainian delegation is engaged in complex negotiations focused primarily on humanitarian issues.
Abu Dhabi negotiations: First round concluded
As reported by RBC-Ukraine citing Novyny.LIVE, during the discussion at the University of Copenhagen, Zelenskyy was asked about the negotiations with the US and Russia taking place in Abu Dhabi. The head of the Ukrainian state replied that prior to making the statement, he had spoken with the Ukrainian team on the ground. According to him, the negotiations in Abu Dhabi are focused on humanitarian issues, including prisoner exchanges.
Zelenskyy on negotiations: "It's tough with the Russians"
Commenting on the course of consultations, the Ukrainian president stated: "I just spoke with our team in Abu Dhabi. It's tough with the Russians. To put it mildly, they are not our best friends." This is one of Zelenskyy's first public remarks regarding the content and nature of the negotiations in the new trilateral format since their resumption.
Position of the Ukrainian delegation
The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, commenting on the talks, noted that Ukraine aims to achieve a lasting peace. According to him, Kyiv also expects to receive security guarantees from its partners. Thus, the Ukrainian side links the effectiveness of the consultations not only with the humanitarian track but also with long-term security issues.
Humanitarian track and prisoner exchange
RBC-Ukraine sources noted that one of the topics discussed in Abu Dhabi was the possibility of a major prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. This aligns with Zelenskyy's statement that the talks focus on humanitarian issues, including exchanges. The specific parameters of a potential exchange were not disclosed in the provided materials.
Context: Resumption of the trilateral format
The meeting in Abu Dhabi became a continuation of the negotiation process after a long break and confirmed the operation of the trilateral format involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia. The conclusion of the first round by 5:00 PM indicates that consultations are proceeding in a working mode, while their outcomes and further agenda remain the focus of attention for Ukrainian and international observers.
