Russia and Ukraine Begin New Round of U.S.-Mediated Peace Talks in Abu Dhabi

Nov. 10, 2026 Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine meet in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10, 2026. Sputnik / Grigory Sysoyev / Pool via REUTERS Russian and Ukrainian delegates in Abu Dhabi have begun a new round of U.S.-mediated negotiations aimed at ending the war, Russian state media reported Tuesday. White House special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are once again mediating the talks, which last through Wednesday. Both men have held meetings with officials across Europe and Russia in recent weeks as they engage in a renewed charge of shuttle diplomacy. Delegates from Russia and Ukraine last met in Geneva in February, though negotiations were temporarily paused following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Kremlin adviser Vladimir Medinsky, an arch-conservative who previously served as Russia’s culture minister, will again serve as the chief negotiator of the Russian delegation. The team also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, alongside senior military and intelligence officials. Shortly before Tuesday’s opening session with Russian officials, Ukrainian delegates met with European and NATO representatives. Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, posted a photograph of the sit-down on Telegram, noting that officials gathered to “align our positions and coordinate steps ahead of the next phase of talks.” The primary focus of this round of negotiations, Umerov wrote, includes a “cessation of hostilities, reliable post-war security guarantees, Ukraine’s economic recovery and development, as well as humanitarian steps.” This is a breaking news story. Please come back later for more details. Read more about: Peace Talks , Ukraine , United States , UAE Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more U.S. Sanctions Russia for 'Beginning' Invasion of Ukraine The announcement came after the EU unveiled its own sanctions in a coordinated Western effort to pressure Russian leader Vladimir Putin. U.S. Says Russia Readying 'False-Flag' Operation to Invade Ukraine Russia quickly denied the account, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the U.S. statements "unfounded." News Analysis A Week of Russia-West Diplomacy Ends in Deadlock No one had expected talks on Ukraine and NATO to deliver any breakthroughs, experts told The Moscow Times. Russia Tells U.S. Has No Plans to Invade Ukraine, Wants More Talks After more than seven hours of negotiations in Geneva, Russian and U.S. negotiators both offered to keep talking, though there was no breakthrough.