U.S. to Mediate Ukraine-Russia Talks in November

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced plans for working-level talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in November. The discussions, scheduled for Nov. 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi, will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace.

American negotiators will meet this week with representatives from European allies and the NATO alliance, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, to discuss future security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukraine has consistently demanded such guarantees as part of any peace deal with Russia.

Witkoff emphasized the goal of building on previous progress in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg to achieve a comprehensive, durable peace agreement. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet agreed to drop his demand for Ukraine to accept Russia's annexation of certain territories.

Zelenskyy has rejected accepting Russia's territorial seizures, and many European allies share this stance, fearing it would set a dangerous precedent. Witkoff's announcement follows the end of a brief ceasefire in the southern region of Kherson, which allowed humanitarian aid into Oleshky and the evacuation of some residents.

The ceasefire, credited by both sides to U.S. first lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo, has raised hopes for diplomatic progress. However, Russia has continued attacking other parts of Ukraine during and after the truce, with strikes reported across the country.

At least 29 people were killed in a village in the southeast Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, authorities said. In the northeast city of Kharkiv, a Russian strike hit a medical facility, wounding 25 people and forcing the evacuation of around 200 patients. Russia's defense ministry claimed a 'massive strike' on energy facilities across Ukraine and port infrastructure in the Odesa region. Moscow's mayor reported that 500 Ukrainian drones heading toward the capital were destroyed overnight.