Kyiv asks Moscow to move Abu Dhabi war talks up to November 3

Ukrainian officials are urging the Russian delegation to shift the upcoming trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi from November 10 to November 3. Kyiv and Washington are currently lobbying Moscow to accept the earlier start date to compress the timeline for substantive discussions. The new round of negotiations is scheduled to follow the US midterm elections, with the current tentative date set for the 10th.

A source close to the Ukrainian negotiation team explained that December will be a critical month for the country's infrastructure. The source noted that when citizens lack power, water, or heating, every single day becomes a factor in the diplomatic process. As of the evening of October 25, final confirmation from Moscow regarding the date change had not yet been received.

Ukraine is also pushing to include a European representative at the table, a move that faces resistance from both Russian and some US officials. Russian counterparts do not want Europeans seated during the initial meeting. However, the Ukrainian plan is to bring an EU observer along to be briefed in real time in Abu Dhabi. The challenge remains that European envoys currently lack a designated representative with the mandate to make decisions, leaving them in a monitoring role rather than a negotiating one.

Björn Seibert, the Head of Cabinet to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has emerged as the likely EU figure for these talks. Sources in the diplomatic team indicate that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have already conveyed to Vladimir Putin the idea of discussing a new security model, and the Russian leader has reportedly agreed in principle. Ukraine continues to insist on European involvement to ensure the final security architecture is acceptable to all parties.

Kyiv does not expect the first meeting to produce a breakthrough. A member of President Zelenskyy's team who has participated in previous rounds predicted that the initial session would serve for delegations to get acquainted. Substantive work is expected to begin at the second meeting, with potential real decisions emerging by the third round. The Ukrainian side believes the composition of the negotiation groups may change, requiring a period of adjustment.

Davyd Arakhamiia, leader of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, told American counterparts that the final peace configuration must be acceptable to residents of Kharkiv and Dnipro. Arakhamiia stated that if people in those regions view the peace formula and agree it suits them, it would represent genuine progress. This approach reflects a strategy to focus on the overall structure of peace rather than immediate disputes over specific border villages.

A source from the President's Office added that Russian negotiators still believe they can break Ukraine during the winter. The Ukrainian team is preparing for a multi-stage process, aiming to present a clear picture of how the region will look post-war, including details on NATO cooperation and security protections. Trust in US leadership remains a factor, with public opinion in Ukraine showing only a slight preference for Donald Trump over Vladimir Putin.