World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
U.S. envoys to meet Putin and Zelensky after Ukraine peace talks
U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Nov.
12, after talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi.
Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said the envoys were bringing something from those talks, but their results were not yet known.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Dublin for the European Political Community summit and said he would meet the envoys there.
The meetings follow two days of peace talks among Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. The effort has been stalled by disagreements over territory, including Moscow's demand that Ukraine withdraw from parts of Donbas.
Ukraine rejects giving up territory it holds and says an unconditional ceasefire should come first.
The envoys are expected to brief Zelensky in Dublin, while the sides have voiced cautious optimism about progress toward a possible agreement by the New Year.
U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin on Nov. 12.
The meetings follow two days of peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States in Abu Dhabi.
Russian and Ukrainian officials expressed cautious optimism after the talks, but territory remains a key obstacle to a settlement.
Moscow has demanded Ukraine withdraw from Donbas, while Kyiv has rejected giving up territory it holds.
Ukraine has called for an unconditional ceasefire as the first step toward wider peace talks, a proposal the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed.
- Who
- U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- What
- The envoys are set to meet Putin in Moscow and Zelensky in Dublin after peace talks.
- When
- Nov. 12, 2026.
- Where
- Moscow and Dublin; the preceding peace talks took place in Abu Dhabi.
- Why
- To meet with Putin and debrief Zelensky after the peace talks. The sources do not state a more specific purpose.
Russia
Ukraine
Territory
Russia
Moscow has focused its demands on Ukraine withdrawing from Donbas.
Ukraine
Kyiv has rejected withdrawing from territory it currently holds.
Security terms
Russia
The Kremlin has demanded a ban on Ukraine joining NATO and limits on its military.
Ukraine
Kyiv has rejected restrictions on its armed forces.
Approach to peace
Russia
The Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed Ukraine’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire as the first step toward broader talks.
Ukraine
Ukraine has called for an unconditional ceasefire as the first step toward broader peace talks.
Ukraine, Russia and the United States concluded peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
Witkoff and Kushner were scheduled to meet Putin in Moscow.
Zelensky was scheduled to meet Witkoff and Kushner in Dublin.
- U.S. special envoys
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
- Moscow meeting
- With Vladimir Putin on Nov. 12, 2026
- Dublin meeting
- With Volodymyr Zelensky on Nov. 12, 2026
- Peace-talk location
- Abu Dhabi
- Territory dispute
- Donbas is a key sticking point
3 sources
What people are saying
We don’t yet know the results of the talks in Abu Dhabi. But they’re bringing something,
We see some openings and some opportunities,
moved closer to peace
good momentum