Russia, Ukraine Reportedly Show Private Flexibility on Territory Ahead of Abu Dhabi Talks

Russia and Ukraine have privately shown some willingness to compromise over a possible territorial exchange ahead of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi, despite both sides maintaining firm public positions on territorial demands. Reuters reported on Monday, Nov. 10, citing a US official who briefed reporters ahead of the negotiations scheduled to begin on Tuesday.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The official said both sides had shown some flexibility in private discussions, although any territorial agreement would likely come toward the end of negotiations, after other issues had been addressed. Territorial demands remain one of the main obstacles to a peace settlement. Ukraine wants Russia to withdraw to the countries’ original borders, while Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to demand control over the entire Donbas region. The US official said security guarantees for Ukraine would also be a major topic during the Abu Dhabi discussions. These could include a NATO-style Article 5 defense commitment, which would provide Ukraine with security assurances similar to those enjoyed by NATO members. The New York Times reported that the participants would focus primarily on security guarantees to prevent a resumption of the war, rather than an immediate ceasefire. Meanwhile, Bloomberg, citing a US official, reported that the first session would focus on ceasefire monitoring and post-war security arrangements, while the second would address territorial issues. Other Topics of Interest Trump Hails Abu Dhabi Peace Talks, Brushes Off Question on Putin Ignoring Ceasefire Demands Trump says the US is prioritizing its own Patriot, Tomahawk and THAAD production while expressing optimism about upcoming Abu Dhabi peace talks. The Abu Dhabi meeting will be the first round of talks since February aimed at bringing an end to Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, which has now lasted more than four and a half years. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to lead Washington’s mediation efforts during the two-day negotiations. The US official also said the envoys could travel to Russia after the talks to meet with Putin. Ukraine does not expect a breakthrough during the first round of negotiations but has certain expectations for the subsequent meeting, David Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation and head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, said. According to Arakhamia, the resumption of negotiations after a lengthy hiatus is an achievement in itself. He also noted that the US is seeking to maintain a strictly symmetrical approach, without taking either side. Russian media reported that trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to begin at 9:50 a.m. Kyiv time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine’s battlefield successes and mounting Russian losses were strengthening Kyiv’s position in negotiations. He confirmed in his evening address that Ukraine’s negotiating delegation had arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the first meeting scheduled for Tuesday. European representatives are also expected to hold separate meetings alongside the trilateral negotiations. Kyiv plans to discuss de-escalation measures and arrangements for a potential meeting between the Ukrainian, Russian, and US presidents. Ukraine has stressed that any peace agreement must include credible security guarantees and prevent Russia from launching another invasion. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were progressing well. Speaking at an unscheduled White House press conference, he expressed optimism that both countries were increasingly willing to end the fighting, saying they were tired of the war and the loss of young soldiers. However, Trump avoided directly addressing a reporter’s question about his failure to secure a ceasefire despite repeatedly setting deadlines for Putin. When challenged over Putin’s refusal to meet his demands or hold direct talks with Zelensky, Trump questioned whether Putin had been fighting the US and then attacked the reporter’s employer, MS NOW, calling it a “fake network.” Trump also repeated an unverified estimate that around 25,000 people were being killed monthly on both sides. Ukrainian Defense Ministry figures, however, reported 54,400 Russian personnel losses in October alone, the highest monthly figure Kyiv has reported since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.