Jared Kushner, the US envoy, said the US will convene the first trilateral talks with Ukraine and Russia since February in Abu Dhabi next week. He spoke after what he called productive, substantive talks with Ukraine, NATO and European partners on security guarantees for Ukraine and the wider European security architecture.

The date had been floating for days. A senior US official put the talks at November 10-11, and the Kremlin said on October 27 that Russia, the US and Ukraine would resume talks in Abu Dhabi in November. The agenda covers ending the war, post-war security pacts, de-escalation and aid measures. Zelenskiy has agreed to a team-level meeting and backs talks between negotiators rather than a leaders' summit. A US official said on October 25 that the aim is to build toward a meeting of leaders, though much work remains.

Europe wants a place at the table. Italy's Meloni said on November 1 that the EU needs a representative in the talks. Germany's Merz said it would be absolutely unacceptable if the US, Russia and China reached an understanding without the Ukrainians.

Moscow has given no sign it will bend. Its demand for the rest of Donbas is unchanged, and a source close to the Kremlin said Putin would negotiate only after securing the remaining 11% of the region. The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia still seeks a peaceful solution but that military action will continue for lack of progress. On November 3 Russia fired 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles at Ukraine overnight, according to Energy Minister Shmyhal, with energy facilities the main targets. Zelenskiy said on November 1 that Ukraine will certainly not give up its territories.

Trump said on Thursday that he had met Russia's Dmitriev and that the US is "very close to settling" the war. That optimism has repeatedly run ahead of any agreed terms. With Russia insisting on Donbas and Ukraine refusing to cede land, a session that happens looks a smaller thing than a deal that holds.

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