Ukraine Talks Focus on Security as US Seeks Putin’s Nod for Europe
WHO:
POLITICO.eu - U.S. officials said privately that both sides had shown some flexibility in settling territorial claims.
ABC News - The European Political Community summit includes leaders from more than 40 European countries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
ABC News - Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the European Political Community brings European leaders together “to advance the security, stability and prosperity of our continent.”
POLITICO.eu - Jared Kushner said European countries need to participate in Ukraine talks; he said he and Steve Witkoff would seek President Vladimir Putin’s approval for Europe to join.
POLITICO.eu - The talks involved Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Bloomberg Markets - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration and Europe shared the same goals.
Kyiv Post - President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian military and intelligence representatives claimed Russia controlled roughly half of the Donbas territory still held by Ukraine.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said Ukrainian negotiators disputed the Russian claims with video and photographic evidence; he said American representatives confirmed Ukraine’s assessment of the battlefield situation.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said he was prepared to discuss territorial issues directly with Putin, with mediation by the United States and Europe, and rejected Russian demands that Ukraine withdraw from its land.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said he would not forgive Putin and that those responsible for killings and atrocities must be identified and held accountable through courts.
WHAT:
POLITICO.eu - Jared Kushner said every significant topic was raised during the Abu Dhabi talks and described territory as “the hardest” issue to resolve.
POLITICO.eu - Jared Kushner said Europe’s participation would allow progress on issues that matter and said he and Steve Witkoff hoped President Vladimir Putin would approve Europe joining the talks.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said Putin appeared to be operating in “a different reality” and that American representatives confirmed Ukraine’s assessment of the battlefield situation.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said “Even if the result will be exchange, it’s a success. People will go home,” describing a prisoner exchange as meaningful progress.
ABC News - The European Political Community does not make binding decisions or issue formal declarations.
ABC News - European security discussions include alleged Russian hybrid threats and disruptive attacks on infrastructure; European countries had not formally assigned blame for recent hoax bomb threats targeting airlines and media outlets.
ABC News - Ireland said the summit is the largest gathering of international leaders in the country and the largest policing and security operation in the Garda Síochána’s 100-year history.
POLITICO.eu - The Abu Dhabi negotiations covered every significant topic, according to Jared Kushner; he said territory would be “the hardest” issue to resolve.
POLITICO.eu - Officials familiar with the talks described the first session as “constructive” and the second as “neutral.” The first session lasted four and a half hours; the second lasted two hours.
POLITICO.eu - The parties did not announce final numbers for the planned prisoner exchange.
POLITICO.eu - U.S. officials said privately that both sides had shown some flexibility on settling territorial claims.
BBC News - Jared Kushner said there was “no trust right now between the sides,” which he said was to be expected after the conflict.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said the disputed Donbas claims concerned a substantial area, “not like, you know, one village.”
Kyiv Post - Zelensky warned that discussions between Washington and Moscow about a new European security architecture could revive Putin’s 2021 proposals to reshape Europe’s security order.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said Ukraine and its Nordic allies had not seen documents detailing the American-Russian discussions and that “Nobody really understands 100% what they want.”
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said he hoped the US Congress would play a more decisive role in supporting Ukraine, particularly by securing long-term American security guarantees.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said courts and judges must determine responsibility for killings and atrocities; “They have to answer.”
BBC News - Abu Dhabi talks focused on a post-war European security framework and ended without a breakthrough.
POLITICO.eu - The two-day talks were described by Kushner as “substantive,” “pretty tough” and “a good first step.” No progress was announced on energy-infrastructure ceasefires, Black Sea shipping or territory.
POLITICO.eu - Russia and Ukraine agreed to what Kushner called likely “the biggest” prisoner exchange since the war began; the numbers were to be confirmed. Russia’s state-controlled Tass news agency confirmed a “large-scale” exchange had been agreed.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said Putin might be telling US negotiators that Russia could occupy Ukraine’s remaining eastern territories within “one, two, three months.” Zelensky called that claim untrue.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said Ukraine would raise a possible meeting between national leaders in the next negotiation round. He also called for more pressure and less business with Russia.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said negotiations should first end Russia’s war, then establish security guarantees for Kyiv, and only afterward address wider European security arrangements.
WHERE:
ABC News - The European Political Community summit is being held in Dublin. Its next gathering is scheduled for April in Zurich, Switzerland.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky cited the Dnipro River as dividing Kherson, with Russian forces on one bank and Ukrainian forces controlling the other.
BBC News - The talks took place in Abu Dhabi.
POLITICO.eu - Kushner said he and Witkoff hoped to meet Putin in Moscow.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky made his remarks at a press conference in Copenhagen after meetings with Nordic leaders. He cited Donbas and Kherson, including the Dnipro River dividing Kherson.
WHEN:
ABC News - The European Political Community meets twice a year: once in an EU country and once outside the bloc.
BBC News - U.S. envoys were due to meet Putin and Zelensky on Thursday.
POLITICO.eu - The Abu Dhabi meeting was the first Russia-Ukraine-US talks since February, following a nine-month break in discussions.
Bloomberg Markets - The war was described as being in its fifth year.
WHY:
ABC News - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the European Political Community summit as a sign of his desire to bring Canada closer to Europe, amid Trump’s trade war with Canada and repeated talk of making it the 51st state.
ABC News - U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham sought closer ties with the European Union, and the European Political Community gives Britain a way to participate in a Europe-wide political gathering despite Brexit.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said reconciliation could not replace justice, adding, “I’m just a human. I’m not God.”
Kyiv Post - Zelensky argued that expanding business with Russia or potentially lifting sanctions would be less effective than increasing economic pressure on Moscow.
POLITICO.eu - Kushner said European participation was needed to make progress on issues that mattered.
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said leader-level territorial talks were necessary to establish the actual extent of control and address sensitive disputes.
HOW:
Kyiv Post - Zelensky said those responsible for killings and atrocities must face legal proceedings, with courts and judges determining responsibility.
POLITICO.eu - The talks were held at a secure government guest house; staff provided coffee, sandwiches and pizza.
POLITICO.eu - The United States mediated the talks; Kushner said he and Witkoff had conveyed to Putin and his team that Europeans should be included.
Kyiv Post - Ukrainian negotiators challenged Russia’s territorial assertions with video and photographs.
(UPDATED November 12, 2026 14:59 UTC)
Abu Dhabi talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States ended without a breakthrough. Zelensky rejected Russia’s demands for Ukraine to surrender land. Both sides agreed to a major prisoner exchange, though officials have not confirmed numbers.
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(UPDATED November 12, 2026 12:00 UTC)
Russia, Ukraine and the United States ended Abu Dhabi talks without a breakthrough on territory. They agreed to a likely major prisoner exchange, with final numbers still unconfirmed. Zelensky rejected Russian territorial demands and urged European participation in future negotiations.
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(UPDATED November 12, 2026 08:58 UTC)
Russia, Ukraine and United States negotiators met in Abu Dhabi without a breakthrough. Zelensky disputed Russia’s battlefield claims and rejected demands for Ukraine to surrender territory. The sides agreed to a major prisoner exchange, with numbers still unconfirmed.
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(UPDATED November 12, 2026 06:59 UTC)
Russia, Ukraine and the United States ended Abu Dhabi talks without a breakthrough on territory. Jared Kushner said Europeans should join negotiations, and a major prisoner exchange was agreed. Zelensky rejected Russian territorial claims, saying Ukraine would discuss disputes directly with Putin.
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(UPDATED November 11, 2026 22:01 UTC)
Russia, Ukraine and the United States ended Abu Dhabi talks without a breakthrough. Kushner said Europe should join negotiations, while Zelensky disputed Russia’s battlefield claims. The sides agreed to a major prisoner exchange, with numbers still unconfirmed.
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(UPDATED November 11, 2026 17:06 UTC)
Abu Dhabi talks on Ukraine’s future ended without a breakthrough, but advanced a prisoner exchange. Jared Kushner said Europe should join negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. Zelensky rejected Russian territorial demands, disputed battlefield claims, and called for leader-level discussions.