Ukraine Talks May Resume in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland, Reuters Says

A new round of talks involving delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia could take place within weeks in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland, potentially giving Washington a central role in another attempt to advance negotiations on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Reuters reported on Friday, Oct. 23, citing unnamed government sources, that the possible meeting would bring together negotiating teams from all three countries. It remains unclear whether Ukrainian and Russian representatives would speak directly or communicate through US intermediaries.

A Washington official said the ultimate objective of the prospective negotiations would be to prepare a meeting at the highest political level. That goal raises the importance of the talks for US policymakers, even if the immediate discussions remain technical and produce no public breakthrough.

For American companies, the proposed meeting is an early diplomatic signal rather than evidence of an imminent settlement. The war continues to affect sanctions compliance, energy markets, defense spending, shipping routes and investment decisions. Businesses with exposure to Europe or Russia would therefore be watching for any indication that negotiations could alter the political or regulatory environment, while recognizing that previous rounds ended without a breakthrough.

Washington’s potential role as intermediary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 23 that an agreement had been reached to hold a trilateral meeting among Ukraine, the United States and Russia at the level of negotiating teams. He said the meeting was planned for the first half of November and emphasized that Kyiv was prepared to convene sooner.

“We plan to meet in the first half of November. We are ready to meet on any day—even tomorrow. But everything depends on the Russians,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky made the remarks by video link during an appearance at the Hudson Institute, a conservative US think tank. He described the negotiating teams’ work as technical and argued that the process must ultimately move to a meeting among national leaders because the principal issues could be resolved only at that level.

That distinction is significant for Washington. A technical meeting could clarify positions, establish procedures and define the issues for later consideration, but it would not necessarily produce the political decisions required to end the conflict. Whether the United States acts as a host, intermediary or direct negotiating participant could also shape how much responsibility the administration assumes for the process and its outcome.

Shortly before Zelensky’s comments, the Kremlin said trilateral talks would be held in Abu Dhabi during the first half of November. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the discussions would focus on security for Russia and Ukraine after the war ends. He also said European Union representatives would not participate.

The possible exclusion of the EU could have practical implications for any negotiating framework. European governments maintain their own sanctions, security policies and economic measures related to the war. Even if the United States helps broker progress, decisions affecting trade, finance and reconstruction would still involve authorities beyond Washington. For US companies, that means a diplomatic advance would not automatically produce a uniform change in transatlantic regulations.

Previous Abu Dhabi rounds produced no breakthrough

The latest diplomatic activity followed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting in St. Petersburg two days earlier with Steven Witkoff, a special envoy for the US president. After that meeting, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow was ready to resume trilateral negotiations with the United States and Ukraine.

Abu Dhabi has already hosted two rounds of closed-door talks among delegations from Ukraine, Russia and the United States. The first took place on Jan. 23 and 24, and the second on Feb. 4 and 5. Neither round achieved a breakthrough toward ending the war.

That record is likely to temper expectations in Washington and corporate boardrooms. The selection of Abu Dhabi would provide continuity with the earlier meetings, while Switzerland would offer an alternative venue. The reporting did not establish which location had been chosen.

The immediate bottom-line consideration for US businesses is continued uncertainty. Companies must operate under existing sanctions, export controls and other applicable rules unless governments formally change them. A negotiating date or venue alone would not modify those obligations.

Still, the proposed talks could become consequential if they lead to a leaders’ summit, as officials have suggested. A high-level meeting could bring questions about postwar security, sanctions and future economic relations closer to political decisions. Until then, the next round should be viewed as a preliminary diplomatic step whose commercial impact will depend on whether the parties move beyond technical discussions.