Kremlin accepts U.S.-brokered Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi
Russia agreed to resume trilateral peace talks with Ukraine in November under United States mediation, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday following a three-hour meeting in Saint Petersburg.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Constantine Palace to discuss a potential framework to end the war. According to Moscow, technical-level negotiations involving delegates from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States could begin in Abu Dhabi on November 10, focusing primarily on postwar security guarantees.
Divergent terms and territorial demands
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, the Kremlin voiced reservations regarding peace proposals presented by Washington following recent multilateral consultations in Oslo. Moscow continues to demand full control over Ukraine’s Donetsk region, a permanent halt to Kyiv’s NATO integration, and a legally binding comprehensive treaty rather than a temporary ceasefire.
“These nuances, so to speak, do not fully satisfy us,” said Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov. He added that while discussions yielded some common ground, Russian leadership is reviewing documents delivered by Witkoff before formal talks begin.
The Saint Petersburg meeting was preceded by Russia's release of detained U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, a move requested by Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that while he supports the trilateral format, any durable settlement requires direct presidential diplomacy between Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow.
Strategic communications and battlefield pressure
The renewed diplomatic push coincides with mounting pressure on Kyiv to consider negotiations, alongside logistical friction regarding military communications. Reports surfaced alleging temporary operational constraints on Ukraine's access to satellite capabilities, including the Starshield network.
U.S. officials, however, dismissed assertions of deliberate disruptions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Washington had not restricted Ukrainian access to the satellite network, while President Zelenskyy noted that discussions in Oslo helped resolve existing issues surrounding intelligence sharing and defense coordination.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
RELATED COVERAGE
