Zelensky confirms November talks with Russia and US under American mediation

Talks announced for November

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian sides will take place in November under American mediation, with the aim of relaunching peace negotiations that have stalled since the start of 2026. Russia had announced on Friday, 23 October 2026, that the gathering would be held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Direct talks between the two countries already took place in 2025 without producing a settlement, as both sides kept to their conditions. The new round follows renewed American efforts to revive talks that stopped after the Israeli-American war in Iran began.

Zelensky sets out his red lines

Zelensky spoke in a national television interview and in a series of posts on X. He said the territorial question must be settled at leaders' level, while other issues go to technical groups. In the posts he wrote the following.

“We are ready for discussions. If it is the territorial issue, then it must be discussed at the level of leaders. Other issues - at the level of technical groups.”

Zelensky also rejected a series of Russian demands. He said the security guarantees Ukraine seeks from its Western allies, the size of its army and its choice of alliances are not negotiable. In the posts he added that restrictions on the army and Ukraine's neutrality are not up for discussion. He said Washington has long raised the exchange of territory, which it calls 'land swaps', and that other formats are open for discussion. He also said his military's access to the Starshield satellite system and US intelligence sharing had been fully restored, while progress on Patriot missiles was moving very slowly.

Energy truce and the Kremlin's position

Zelensky again called for an energy ceasefire, as Ukraine fears a painful campaign of Russian strikes this winter, as it did in 2025. Russia rejects any pause in fighting before a deal on substance, arguing that a truce would give Kyiv time to rearm. On Thursday, 22 October 2026, Vladimir Putin said future talks should focus on security guarantees for both countries and an overall security framework for Europe. He told Russian media that Moscow was ready to resume talks with Kyiv after discussions with US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff. The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected a meeting between Putin and Zelensky before a final peace agreement.

Oleshky pause and the Musk dispute

On Friday, 23 October 2026, the White House said Melania Trump had secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, limited to a blockaded city near the front line. The two countries reportedly agreed to temporarily halt all military action in Russian-occupied Oleshky, allowing humanitarian aid to enter and a civilian evacuation through a safe passage starting on 29 October. On Saturday, 24 October 2026, Elon Musk accused Ukraine of violating the Starshield satellite system by using it for 'offensive drone strikes to kill people'. Zelensky separately reaffirmed that access to the system had been restored.

What remains open

Zelensky's statements place the meeting within November, but the reports do not give a specific day for it. The Oleshky pause is described only as reportedly agreed. Russia's rejection of a pause in fighting before a substantive deal stands against the energy truce Zelensky is again seeking.