Russia

Ukraine and Russia could see European countries join the next round of peace negotiations, following talks between US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday (November 12). However, conflicting positions over European military involvement, Ukraine’s territorial future and the continent’s security arrangements highlight the difficulties facing the diplomatic process. Speaking after the meeting, Witkoff said European participation would be an important development, describing the countries concerned as key partners. Kushner also indicated that Washington had noticed a shift in European attitudes and believed their involvement would not obstruct progress. In a statement published on X, he said the expanded discussions would address broader European security arrangements alongside territorial disputes between Russia and Ukraine. The US envoys subsequently travelled to Dublin, where they met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a European summit. Zelenskyy welcomed the possibility of European participation and expressed hope that the negotiations would include measures to reduce tensions and establish ceasefires. He also reiterated the importance of European representation in decisions concerning the continent’s security. Moscow, however, has offered a more cautious interpretation of the proposed expansion. Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, suggested that European countries should first reconsider their military assistance to Kyiv, arguing that their current actions demonstrated an unwillingness to pursue peace. Putin similarly called on Washington to work with its European allies to establish whether they genuinely wanted peace or continued confrontation with Russia. The Russian president also rejected the prospect of European peacekeeping troops being deployed to Ukraine following a potential agreement, describing such a presence as a continuation of the war. His position reflects wider disagreements over the future European security architecture, with Moscow seeking discussions on the continent's broader security arrangements, while European leaders insist that such negotiations cannot replace a settlement of the war. Simultaneously, Zelenskyy raised concerns about disruptions to Starshield, the US-made satellite communications service used by Ukrainian forces. He described Washington’s discussions with Moscow about Europe's future security as unusual and warned against decisions that could undermine Ukraine's sovereignty. Despite the diplomatic activity, fighting continued. Russian drone attacks killed two people in Ukraine's Sumy region and injured five in Rivne, while a separate attack in Russia's Belgorod region killed one person and injured four. Ukrainian agricultural company Kernel Holding also suspended operations at all its oilseed extraction facilities following repeated Russian attacks.

Russia and Ukraine agreed to what US envoy Jared Kushner described as the largest prisoner exchange of the war following two days of US-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. However, the discussions produced limited progress towards a broader peace agreement, with territorial disputes and disagreements over Europe’s security architecture remaining unresolved. The trilateral talks, led by US President Donald Trump’s envoys Kushner and Steve Witkoff, brought together senior Russian and Ukrainian delegations for the first negotiations of this format since February. The proposed humanitarian exchange could involve 1,000–1,200 prisoners from each side, although the final figures had yet to be confirmed. Kushner said the agreement could help reunite families, build trust and generate momentum towards peace. Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia described the discussions as difficult, citing the Russian delegation’s “very, very strict directives”. Nevertheless, he reported progress on security guarantees for Ukraine, expressing hope that an agreement could be reached before the end of the year. Ukrainian delegation head Rustem Umerov similarly acknowledged that substantial work remained but said opportunities existed to continue negotiations. Territorial disagreements remained a major obstacle. Moscow continues to demand control over the entirety of the Donbas, including territories held by Kyiv, as well as additional areas in southern Ukraine. Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, reiterated Moscow’s position, stating that “every inch of our land will be returned to Russia”. Kyiv, meanwhile, maintains that a ceasefire should precede negotiations over territorial arrangements. Disagreements also extended to the future of European security. Medinsky called for a “new, modern Yalta”, referring to the 1945 settlement between the Allied powers, and argued that negotiations should address the wider European security order. European governments have expressed concern that Washington and Moscow could discuss arrangements affecting NATO’s presence in eastern Europe without their participation. Representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the EU attended meetings alongside the Abu Dhabi negotiations, although they did not participate directly in the trilateral discussions. On Thursday (November 12), Kushner and Witkoff arrived in Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They are subsequently expected to travel to Dublin to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European partners. Zelenskyy, who expressed hope for a possible diplomatic opening before 2027, stressed the importance of obtaining concrete proposals from Washington. Meanwhile, military operations continued alongside diplomatic efforts. Russia launched drone attacks against Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions, while Ukraine struck the Ust-Luga port in Russia’s Leningrad region, a significant hub for Russian energy exports. Russia and Ukraine agreed to what US envoy Jared Kushner described as the largest prisoner exchange of the war following two days of US-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. However, the discussions produced limited progress towards a broader peace agreement, with territorial disputes and disagreements over Europe’s security architecture remaining unresolved. The trilateral talks, led by US President Donald Trump’s envoys Kushner and Steve Witkoff, brought together senior Russian and Ukrainian delegations for the first negotiations of this format since February. The proposed humanitarian exchange could involve 1,000–1,200 prisoners from each side, although the final figures had yet to be confirmed. Kushner said the agreement could help reunite families, build trust and generate momentum towards peace. Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia described the discussions as difficult, citing the Russian delegation’s “very, very strict directives”. Nevertheless, he reported progress on security guarantees for Ukraine, expressing hope that an agreement could be reached before the end of the year. Ukrainian delegation head Rustem Umerov similarly acknowledged that substantial work remained but said opportunities existed to continue negotiations. Territorial disagreements remained a major obstacle. Moscow continues to demand control over the entirety of the Donbas, including territories held by Kyiv, as well as additional areas in southern Ukraine. Russia’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, reiterated Moscow’s position, stating that “every inch of our land will be returned to Russia”. Kyiv, meanwhile, maintains that a ceasefire should precede negotiations over territorial arrangements. Disagreements also extended to the future of European security. Medinsky called for a “new, modern Yalta”, referring to the 1945 settlement between the Allied powers, and argued that negotiations should address the wider European security order. European governments have expressed concern that Washington and Moscow could discuss arrangements affecting NATO’s presence in eastern Europe without their participation. Representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the EU attended meetings alongside the Abu Dhabi negotiations, although they did not participate directly in the trilateral discussions. On Thursday (November 12), Kushner and Witkoff arrived in Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They are subsequently expected to travel to Dublin to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European partners. Zelenskyy, who expressed hope for a possible diplomatic opening before 2027, stressed the importance of obtaining concrete proposals from Washington. Meanwhile, military operations continued alongside diplomatic efforts. Russia launched drone attacks against Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions, while Ukraine struck the Ust-Luga port in Russia’s Leningrad region, a significant hub for Russian energy exports.