---
title: "Zelenskyy outlines four priorities for Abu Dhabi talks: energy, grain, prisoners, and a leaders' meeting involving Europe"
description: "Zelenskyy named four priorities for the Abu Dhabi talks on November 10–11: energy, grain, prisoner exchanges, and a leaders' meeting with Europe's participation. Peskov confirmed the Russia-US-Ukraine format but stated that Europeans are not participating in it."
date: 2026-11-03T14:52:16.166Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-priorities-abu-dhabi-talks
tags: [ukraine, peace-talks, abu-dhabi, security-guarantees, zelensky, kremlin]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelenskyy outlines four priorities for Abu Dhabi talks: energy, grain, prisoners, and a leaders' meeting involving Europe

![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wearing black clothing during a public appearance.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/03/zelenskiy-prioritety-peregovorov-v-abu-dabi/zelenskiy-prioritety-peregovorov-v-abu-dabi-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Zelenskyy named four priorities for the Abu Dhabi talks: energy, grain, prisoner exchanges, and a leaders' meeting.
- Kyiv insists on the mandatory presence of Europe at the leaders' meeting; Peskov stated that Europeans do not participate in the trilateral format.
- Trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine talks will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, with the Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Medinsky.
- The US signals readiness to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine; the Prosperity Package is being discussed in parallel.

During a meeting with German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the key topics that Kyiv intends to bring to the upcoming peace talks in Abu Dhabi (UAE), scheduled for November 10–11. According to the head of state, the American side has already signaled that it 'wants to talk about security guarantees for Ukraine,' and parallel to the negotiating track, the so-called Prosperity Package—a recovery package for Ukraine—will be discussed. 'They are also discussing with our team the issues we want to raise at the November 10–11 meeting in Abu Dhabi. For us, these are priority matters,' Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing that the listed points are paramount 'for all normal people.'

### Four priorities of the Ukrainian side

Zelenskyy linked the first priority to energy: this concerns a ceasefire and halting strikes on energy and critical infrastructure. As the second point, he named grain, meaning the unblocking of the Black Sea, which he said is of interest not only to Ukraine and Russia, but also to other African and Asian countries, as well as Kyiv's partners. The third priority is the exchange of prisoners of war: the president noted that the desired format is 'all for all,' but at a minimum, it is necessary to make exchanges and the return of people home more intensive. The fourth aspect is the preparation of a leaders-level meeting in a trilateral format with the mandatory presence of Europe.

### Moscow's position: format and delegation composition

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed that trilateral negotiations in the Russia-US-Ukraine format will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. The Russian delegation will be led by presidential aide and head of the Russian Historical Society Vladimir Medinsky. Peskov stated that the meeting will discuss security issues and security guarantees, which, according to him, 'can only be mutual.' The Kremlin has previously also confirmed Russia's participation in the talks on Ukraine.

### Disagreements over Europe's role

Here, the positions of the parties diverge noticeably. Zelenskyy, agreeing with Merz, stated that 'there can be no stable and lasting peace unless Europe is involved in the negotiations in one format or another.' Peskov, conversely, emphasized that European representatives will not participate in the talks, as the trilateral format does not provide for this, and added that a conversation with Europeans will be needed later when the future security system in Europe is discussed. Thus, both parties confirm the very fact of negotiations and the discussion of security guarantees, but assess Europe's place in the negotiation process differently.

### Security guarantees and the recovery package

The issue of security guarantees is coming to the forefront: according to Zelenskyy, the American side is signaling its readiness to discuss guarantees for Ukraine. Earlier, the president indicated that such guarantees must include a strong army, as well as Ukraine's membership in the European Union and NATO. Parallel to the negotiating track, according to him, the Prosperity Package—a recovery package for Ukraine—is being discussed, pointing to a link between diplomatic and economic initiatives ahead of the Abu Dhabi meeting.

### Context of preparation for the meeting

Preparation for the November talks proceeded through European contacts: the leaders of Finland and Norway—President Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre—after a meeting in Oslo held telephone negotiations with Zelenskyy, and then contacted the Russian side, voicing Kyiv's position and listening to Moscow's point of view. Following these contacts, the Ukrainian side was informed that, according to European mediators' assessment, the Russian side is seriously настроена (serious) about the Abu Dhabi meeting. The main topics for technical groups are called the first steps toward de-escalation, security priorities, and a general cessation of war, including de-escalation in energy and at sea, as well as prisoner exchanges.

## Accounts differ

### Europe's participation in the Abu Dhabi talks

- **Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** The leaders' meeting in a trilateral format must take place with the mandatory presence of Europe; without Europe's involvement, there will be no lasting peace ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/garantiyi-bezpeki-i-tilki-zelenskiy-rozkriv-1793717000.html))
- **Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov:** European representatives will not participate in the negotiations because the trilateral format does not provide for this; a conversation with Europeans will be needed later ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/garantiyi-bezpeki-i-tilki-zelenskiy-rozkriv-1793717000.html))

*Where they agree:* Trilateral negotiations between Russia, the US, and Ukraine will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11, addressing security guarantees

### Nature of security guarantees

- **Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** The American side has given signals that it wants to talk about security guarantees for Ukraine ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/garantiyi-bezpeki-i-tilki-zelenskiy-rozkriv-1793717000.html))
- **Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov:** Security guarantees can only be mutual ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/garantiyi-bezpeki-i-tilki-zelenskiy-rozkriv-1793717000.html))

*Where they agree:* Security guarantees will be discussed at the Abu Dhabi talks

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Гарантии безопасности и не только: Зеленский раскрыл приоритеты мирных переговоров в Абу-Даби](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/garantiyi-bezpeki-i-tilki-zelenskiy-rozkriv-1793717000.html) - Primary source: Zelenskyy's four priorities, Peskov's statement on the format and delegation composition, absence of Europe in the trilateral format.
- [После разговора с российской стороной они позвонили мне, – Зеленский о контакте со Стуббом и ...](https://24tv.ua/ru/peregovory-v-abu-dabi-i-garantii-bezopasnosti-zelenskij-raskryl-podrobnosti_n3168973) - Preparation context: Stubb and Støre contacts with Putin, continuation of the Oslo meeting, topics of de-escalation in energy and at sea.
- [Зеленский раскрыл детали новых переговоров с Путиным: о чем будут договариваться в Абу-Даби](https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/zelenskiy-raskryl-detali-novyh-peregovorov-s-putinym-o-chem-budut-dogovarivatsya-v-abu-dabi-3201527.html) - Additional context of Zelenskyy's phone calls with the leaders of Finland and Norway and their contacts with the Russian side.
- [Зеленский назвал гарантии безопасности, которые нужны Украине](https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2026/10/20/29565337.shtml) - Context regarding the content of guarantees: strong army, EU and NATO membership.

## FAQ

### When and where will the talks on Ukraine take place?

Trilateral negotiations in the Russia-US-Ukraine format are scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The Russian delegation will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky.

### What four priorities did Zelenskyy name?

Energy (ceasefire and stopping infrastructure strikes), grain (unblocking the Black Sea), prisoner of war exchanges, and preparing a leaders' meeting in a trilateral format with Europe's participation.

### Will Europe participate in the negotiations?

Zelenskyy insists on Europe's mandatory presence at the leaders' meeting. Peskov stated that European representatives do not participate in the trilateral format, but a conversation with Europeans will be needed later.

### What do the parties say about security guarantees?

According to Zelenskyy, the American side is signaling readiness to discuss guarantees for Ukraine. Peskov emphasized that security guarantees 'can only be mutual.'