US to hold trilateral talks with Ukraine, Russia in Abu Dhabi next week, US official says

The United ​States will bring together delegations from Ukraine ​and Russia in Abu ‌Dhabi on November ​10-11 to discuss ending Moscow's war against Ukraine, post-war security agreements and de-escalation, a senior US official told Reuters ‌on Monday. US negotiators have been seeking a breakthrough in the long-running conflict before the winter sets in. The last US-mediated peace talks took place in February before the ‌United States and Israel launched a war against Iran.

The senior US official, speaking ‌on condition of anonymity, said the new Abu Dhabi discussions will cover "post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures, and ending the war." The lead US negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to represent the ⁠US in ​Abu Dhabi, the ⁠official said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a new round of trilateral talks after meeting Witkoff in ⁠St Petersburg two weeks ago in the latest US push to stop Europe's bloodiest conflict since ​World War Two. The US official said American negotiators will meet at the working ⁠level this week in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, Britain, the European Union and NATO ⁠to ​discuss "Ukraine’s security guarantees, Europe’s future security framework, and economic support for Ukraine’s reconstruction."

The official said the meetings build on recent discussions among the parties and "reflect President ⁠Trump’s continued efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine." Ukraine and Russia ⁠remain far apart ⁠when it comes to the terms of any possible peace deal, though Trump has recently intensified pressure on Ukraine to strike ‌some kind ‌of a deal.

(Reporting By Steve Holland; editing ​by Michelle Nichols)