According to the Kremlin, the talks could take place in Abu Dhabi starting 10 November, and would focus in part on security arrangements for Russia and Ukraine after the war ends. This marks a significant resumption of contacts, after the last round of US-mediated talks took place in February.
Still, the road to an agreement remains long. Moscow continues to demand full Russian control over the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine and opposes Ukraine's accession to NATO. Kyiv, for its part, demands security guarantees that would prevent another Russian attack in the future.
The agreement to resume talks comes after a period of tension in Washington-Kyiv relations, against the backdrop of pressure Trump is exerting on Ukraine to reach a settlement. The US president called on Kyiv this week to end the war, warning that otherwise it could face severe consequences.
At the same time, Witkoff said the meetings in Oslo and St Petersburg were constructive, and that work on a framework for a peace agreement would continue in the trilateral talks. He noted that significant work remains, but Trump is committed, he said, to bringing about an end to the war and achieving a stable peace.
The recent developments indicate a renewal of the diplomatic channel between the sides, but at this stage there is no agreement on the central conditions for ending the fighting. The success of the talks depends on the sides' ability to bridge the gaps on the question of territory, Ukraine's security future and the arrangement that will ensure the implementation of the agreement over time.
