Zelensky hopes for talks with Russia and US by 10 November, but date is not agreed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference in The Hague on Wednesday, 28 October, that preparations were under way for talks with Russia and the United States in Abu Dhabi. He expects the meeting by 10 November, but no date has been agreed.

Zelensky said he hoped the three-way meeting would take place between 6 and 10 November, according to RBC-Ukraine’s account of the press conference. Kyiv was waiting for Washington to confirm a date, he said, and he expected more clarity after 4 November. That was his expectation, not a confirmed US timetable.

Russia’s presidential aide Yuri Ushakov gave a different timeframe. In comments reported by Interfax, he spoke of around mid-November and said no exact date had been announced. Asked about 10 November, he said it had been mentioned but not fixed.

Who would join the talks is also unsettled. Ushakov said European representatives would not be invited to the three-way table. Zelensky said the initial meeting would be between technical teams from Ukraine, Russia and the US, but that Kyiv wanted Europe involved in the wider process, particularly on security guarantees and reconstruction. Euronews reported earlier on Wednesday that the European Commission and European Council were preparing a joint team for the next round. That preparation does not establish whether European representatives will be invited.