Abu Dhabi talks day one: no deal, Russia still demands all of Donetsk Oblast

The first day of US-brokered talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, ended on 10 November with no agreement announced by either side. The round is the first of its kind in nine months and includes envoys of US President Donald Trump. The outcome matters because it could shape security arrangements for Ukraine and Europe for years, Radio Svoboda reported.

How the session went

A source close to Ukraine's delegation told Ukrainska Pravda that most of the session covered security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe. Russia's demands for guarantees of its own and Ukraine's postwar reconstruction were discussed separately. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the session lasted more than three hours. Talks resume on 11 November.

Kyiv's position is that the war must end first, and only then can a new European security architecture be formed. Delegation head Rustem Umierov named ending hostilities, reliable postwar guarantees, recovery and humanitarian steps as priorities. Before meeting the Russians, the Ukrainian side coordinated with the UK, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, the European Commission and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Moscow's stance

US officials told reporters they see a "real chance" of serious progress but expect no final deal this week. They said both sides had shown some flexibility in private. Moscow, however, still rejects an unconditional ceasefire and wants Ukraine to hand over the rest of Donetsk Oblast. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would not simply agree to a ceasefire, claiming Europeans were trying to buy Kyiv time. A source in the Russian delegation told Reuters the war in Ukraine is only one aspect of a new security architecture for the whole continent.

US offers

US officials offered Russia guarantees for Ukraine modeled on NATO's Articles 4 and 5, and floated reviving the NATO–Russia Council and lifting sanctions. According to The Economist, US negotiators also proposed redrawing the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Danish broadcaster DR that nobody believes Putin will stop if Ukraine leaves the Donbas.

On the eve of the talks, Russian strikes killed three people in Odesa and cut power in Dnipro and Kamianske.