Witkoff announces US–Ukraine–Russia talks in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November

On 2 November, US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced working-level talks between US, Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November 2026, mediated by the US. Kyiv Post and Club Z reported his statement on X. This is a planned meeting, not an agreement reached: Flank has found no independent confirmation from Kyiv, Moscow or the UAE hosts that all participants have accepted the conditions for holding it.

The agenda includes Ukraine’s security and the next steps towards peace

According to Witkoff’s statement, quoted by both outlets, the talks will cover post-war security measures, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and the next steps towards peace.

Before the talks, US officials plan meetings in Brussels with representatives of France, Germany, the UK, the EU and NATO. The announced topics include security guarantees for Ukraine, support for its reconstruction and post-war security in Europe.

These consultations do not mean that the allies have already reached a common position or made commitments. Talks on immediate de-escalation and those on long-term guarantees serve different purposes: a limited agreement could reduce specific risks without resolving the underlying political and military differences.

A possible Black Sea truce remains unconfirmed

Club Z also reports growing international support for a limited truce in the Black Sea, which emerged at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting. Its aim would be to protect shipping and ensure grain and energy exports from Russia and Ukraine. Flank has found no independent confirmation of this information. It should be treated neither as an agreed ceasefire nor as a confirmed item on the Abu Dhabi agenda.

For Bulgaria, as a Black Sea state and NATO member, such an agreement, if reached, would matter for the security of trade routes. Its effect, however, will depend on the specific rules: which actions would be prohibited, which vessels and port facilities would be protected, and how violations would be established. Protecting merchant shipping does not in itself mean an end to all military operations in the maritime area.

It remains unclear who will take part and what proposals will be put forward

The final composition and mandates of the delegations are not known, nor is it known whether there is a document agreed in advance. No specific security guarantees, NATO commitments or mechanism for verifying a possible truce have been confirmed.

In Flank’s assessment, the meaningful indicator of progress will be a jointly accepted and verifiable commitment, rather than the resumption of meetings itself. Developments are continuing, and the information may be supplemented following confirmation from the other participants and the results of the planned talks.