Ukraine, Russia and US Prepare for Abu Dhabi Talks

Ukraine, Russia and the United States are preparing for team-level talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, describing the session as part of efforts to move toward negotiations among national leaders. The planned discussions are to address the war and could lead to a leaders’ meeting, but no such meeting has been agreed or scheduled in the reports. Zelensky said he spoke by phone on November 4 with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for about 90 minutes. He said the conversation covered preparations for the trilateral talks and that Ukraine had presented proposals to the U.S. side. Witkoff had announced the U.S.-mediated round, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia would send a delegation. Zelensky said air defense supplies were also discussed, including interceptors for Patriot systems, which he said Ukraine needs to protect people from Russian attacks. He also raised postwar security guarantees and continued bilateral work with Washington, including a proposed drone-deal format. His account of the call and its contents has not been publicly addressed by Witkoff or Kushner, according to one report....