Ukraine Peace Talks to Resume in Abu Dhabi as China Discusses Xi-Trump-Putin Meeting

Ukraine peace talks involving Russia, the United States and Ukraine will resume in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, 10 November. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the date on Friday, Russian state news agency TASS reported. The two-day round comes as China discusses a possible meeting of Xi Jinping, Donald Trump and Putin.

At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a warning. He says a wider “big agreement” floated by Trump could be risky. The mix of new diplomacy and old mistrust sets the tone for next week.

What we know about the Abu Dhabi Ukraine peace talks

Putin spoke about the talks at a meeting with permanent members of Russia’s Security Council. “I invited colleagues who will participate in these talks,” he said, according to TRT World, citing Anadolu Agency.

Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian delegation, the Kremlin has said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the team would be in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November, CNBC reported.

The United States will act as mediator. US envoy Steve Witkoff said the agenda would include post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian issues and next steps towards peace. In addition, US officials planned talks with European and NATO officials in Brussels this week. Security guarantees and rebuilding Ukraine were on that agenda.

China confirms talks on a three-leader meeting

Separately, Beijing has confirmed for the first time that it is discussing a three-way summit. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China “is in communication with relevant parties” about such a meeting, Arab News reported.

Nothing has been finalised. However, reports suggest it could take place on the sidelines of the APEC leaders’ summit in Shenzhen, China, later this month. Trump is expected to travel there to meet Xi.

The three sides appear to want different things. Trump has said he would mainly like to discuss nuclear arms control. On the other hand, Putin reportedly sees the format as a way to end the war on his terms. Meduza reported this, citing the Wall Street Journal.

Some experts are doubtful about the outcome. “I think it will happen. The question is the format and the content,” Sun Yun of the Stimson Center told Arab News. She added that China “wants the image but not the costs”.

Zelenskyy warns of a “dangerous” deal

Kyiv is watching these moves closely. On Thursday, Trump met Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian presidential envoy, at the White House. Afterwards, he told reporters that “it’s going to be a big agreement”. He suggested it could go beyond Ukraine and involve all of Europe.

Zelenskyy responded with caution in an interview with CNN. “Between us, for me it’s not simple, and it can be dangerous,” he said, TRT World reported. He argued that Russia was pushing talks on a new European security order instead of a real settlement.

He also referred to the 1945 Yalta conference, where Allied powers shaped post-war Europe. “We don’t want to be divided by Russia,” he said. Earlier, Zelenskyy has insisted that any talks on Ukraine’s future must include Kyiv at the table.

Fighting continues as diplomacy moves

Despite the talks, the war goes on. Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over overnight strikes, and casualties were reported in Kyiv, Anadolu Agency said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is still seeking support from Europe. Zelenskyy met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid. Afterwards, he said Spain will provide new military aid worth €437 million, Anadolu reported.

A short local pause around Oleshky in the Kherson region also ended this week. The White House said Melania Trump helped broker it. Ukraine accused Russia of using it to reinforce its positions, CNBC reported.

What to expect next

Expectations for Abu Dhabi remain modest. An Atlantic Council analysis argued that Moscow may use talks to buy time and win concessions. Still, any agreement on humanitarian steps, such as prisoner exchanges, would be a sign of progress.

The next two weeks will therefore be busy. First comes the Abu Dhabi round on 10 and 11 November. After that, attention will turn to whether a Xi-Trump-Putin meeting takes shape in Shenzhen, and whether Ukraine has any seat at that table.