Russia, US and Ukraine to meet in Abu Dhabi for peace talks on 10-11 November

Officials from Ukraine, Russia and the United States are due to meet in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 and 11 November. The negotiations aim to end nearly five years of war between Moscow and Kyiv, Al Jazeera reported.

It is the fourth round of US-mediated talks this year. The two sides have held three earlier rounds, including two in Abu Dhabi. The US delegation will be headed by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in the first such talks in nine months. Rustem Umerov will lead Kyiv's team, according to the Kyiv Independent. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian delegation, according to TASS.

The role of Europe remains unclear. The Kremlin said on Monday that the talks would not include European officials. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said officials from France, Britain, Germany, NATO and the European Commission would be present. An EU official said national security officials from those bodies would be on site, but it was unclear how they would be involved.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, according to Arab News, that the talks will test whether Moscow is willing to negotiate a settlement. The UN Security Council was also due to meet on Ukraine on Monday. UN News said Russian strikes on energy infrastructure threaten millions with another cold, dark winter and that civilian deaths are climbing sharply.

The positions of the two sides remain far apart. Ukraine wants Russia to withdraw from its territory and to give a security guarantee as part of any deal. Russia has refused to end its occupation, has set conditions that Kyiv not be given NATO membership, and opposes foreign troops in Ukraine after a deal. Russia occupies roughly 20 percent of Ukraine, including Crimea and parts of Donbas. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, a move not recognised by the UN.

US President Donald Trump has urged Kyiv to cede territory and has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for holding up peace efforts. Trump said: "Zelenskyy has to want to settle this war, and if he doesn't, I think it's going to be a very bad thing." He also claimed on Thursday that the war was close to being settled.

Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko said: "I don't expect any tangible progress in the Abu Dhabi talks." Matthew Boyse said: "So far Putin has not budged from his 'my way or the highway' and 'what's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable' position." Critics also note that the US signed a deal last month to buy Russian diesel, which they say would give Russia revenue to sustain the war.