Overview
- The United States, Ukraine and Russia held in-person talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10–11 that produced no ceasefire or border settlement but secured an agreement for a large prisoner exchange.
- Russian lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky publicly reiterated maximalist demands, saying Russia will not accept territorial swaps and that it will hold lands it calls Russian, a stance analysts say aims to fix a Russia-favored frontline as the basis for talks.
- The Institute for the Study of War warned Moscow used the talks to press demands amounting to Ukrainian capitulation and to shift negotiations toward a broader Europe‑ or Eurasia‑wide security architecture.
- U.S. envoys reportedly floated a compromise to freeze control along the Donbas frontline, a proposal Kyiv rejected as unacceptable according to reporting by The Telegraph and Ukrainian officials.
- European leaders in Dublin responded by calling for a distinct European peace plan, debating who should represent Europe at future talks, and preparing a 22nd EU sanctions package plus proposals to secure Ukraine’s 2027 financing.