US envoys to meet European representatives ahead of Abu Dhabi talks

US President Donald Trump's special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will meet European partners before trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The talks on ending the war in Ukraine are set for 10 and 11 November, and Kushner described them as the first trilateral negotiations since February.

Kushner announced the plan in a post on X. He said Trump is determined to end a war that has caused enormous loss of life and destruction. Before the two days of talks, the envoys will meet partners from Ukraine, the European Union, NATO, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy to continue close consultation and coordination.

Aims of the talks

According to Kushner, the US goal is to bring Ukraine and Russia together to discuss their postwar security concerns, proposals and possible solutions directly. He hopes the discussions will identify common ground, advance practical solutions and build momentum for the next phase of negotiations.

He said the work is focused on four interconnected priorities:

• ending the fighting;
• developing credible postwar security guarantees that reduce the risk of renewed conflict;
• preparing a comprehensive economic and prosperity plan for Ukraine;
• advancing humanitarian measures to alleviate suffering.

Kushner added that, together with Ukraine, the EU and other European partners, the US is addressing Ukraine's postwar fiscal and reconstruction needs, supporting critical infrastructure, attracting private investment and creating conditions for long-term growth.

Delegations

Rustem Umierov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service and leader of the Ukrainian negotiating team, said earlier on 9 November that the Ukrainian delegation had left for Abu Dhabi. Representatives of the European Commission, the European Council, Germany, France and the United Kingdom at security adviser level will also attend, along with the chief of staff of the NATO secretary general.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on 9 November that she had a "good call" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which they discussed security in the Black Sea and the upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi.