Trump Envoys to Meet Putin in Moscow After Ukraine Talks End Without Breakthrough

November 12, 2026

Abu Dhabi: Special presidential envoys of US President Donald Trump Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will head to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin after stalled talks in Abu Dhabi failed to yield any breakthrough on ending the war in Ukraine.

During a news conference in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Kushner, who is the president’s son-in-law, revealed that he would travel to Moscow to meet with Putin. The meeting will be to discuss the issues brought up during the two-day talks in Abu Dhabi.

“Steve and I are going to travel to Moscow tomorrow to meet with President Putin to go over what was discussed today and to try to make more progress on some of the issues that we discussed because we see some openings and some opportunities there,” Kushner said.

The trip comes after two days of talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US delegations. It marks the first time there has been direct diplomacy between the Trump administration and Russia to try and reach a diplomatic resolution to the nearly five-year long crisis.

US Envoys Discuss Humanitarian Aid and Prisoner Swaps

Kushner highlighted that the talks would centre on finalising humanitarian aid and prisoner swaps. However, he added that the United States would like to see European nations get involved in the talks.

But Moscow have often rejected this.

Kushner, who is taking on a leading diplomatic role, also confirmed that he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin after Moscow to discuss ideas that arose from the talks.

Russia Remains Unbudgeable

The talks in Abu Dhabi came to no real conclusion as the Russian envoy, Vladimir Medinsky, said Moscow had not budged.

“In some areas, we reached a mutual understanding. In others, we did not. This conversation will, without a doubt, continue.” We will certainly continue the dialogue, he said.

The Ukrainian delegation said there had been some progress on humanitarian issues. But senior Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said that there were still major differences between both sides.

European envoys were also present in Abu Dhabi.

Europeans Want to Be Involved in Peace Talks

The latest diplomacy comes as European governments have expressed concerns over how the United States are looking to arrange peace.

Trump has recently suggested a large amount of concessions will be made to Moscow, causing concerns in European capitals.

He also mentioned last week a new security deal with Europe, which caused European leaders to again stress they want to be formally involved in the peace talks.

“We’re looking to broaden out future negotiations and have our allies permanently at the table,” Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, said during the diplomatic talks at a G7 meeting earlier this week.