Ukraine and the United States are preparing a trilateral round with Russia in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November — the first direct three-way talks since February — amid renewed peace hopes after Democrats’ midterm win, Der Standard reported.

The agenda announced by US envoys covers post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian steps and ending the war. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to represent Washington. Vladimir Putin agreed to a new round after meeting Witkoff in St Petersburg.

President Volodymyr Zelensky held a 90-minute call with Witkoff and Kushner on Wednesday during a Madrid visit: “Negotiations must move forward at full throttle to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible. Ukraine is ready to take the necessary steps.”

In parallel, the White House said Melania Trump would bring Russian and Ukrainian representatives together; Moscow indicated adviser Kirill Dmitriev and ombudsman Yana Lantratova might take part Thursday, while Ukraine’s ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced travel to Washington.

Der Standard notes Russia’s positions — from limiting Ukrainian forces and blocking NATO to “guarantees” Kyiv rejects as dictate — are unchanged since February. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cooled expectations: the sides are not “close to a negotiated solution.”

Zelensky’s recent stops in Turkey and Germany underline Kyiv’s wish to keep Europe at the table, which Moscow resists. First Emirati rounds are framed as “technical negotiations,” against US pressure on Kyiv and Russian air strikes ahead of winter.

Source: Ukraine and US prepare meeting with Russia (Der Standard)