Trump meets Putin envoy ahead of Abu Dhabi talks
The White House hosted rare direct contact between US and Russian officials following the midterm elections, with a new mediation round scheduled for November 10.
By William Turner ·
US President Donald Trump held private talks on Thursday with Kirill Dmitriev, the special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting took place after Dmitriev appeared at a White House ceremony alongside Ukrainian representatives. Trump declined to specify the topics discussed during the one-on-one session but indicated that a resolution to the war in Ukraine is imminent.
A US delegation is set to mediate discussions in Abu Dhabi from November 10 to 11. These talks will bring together representatives from Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump described the potential outcome as a major agreement that could extend beyond the borders of Ukraine. He suggested the deal might include security provisions for all of Europe.
The White House event marked the first in-person meeting between Russian and US officials since the midterm elections on Tuesday. In those elections, Democrats regained control of Congress, shifting the balance of power for the next two years. The new majority is expected to scrutinize the administration's recent moves, including a diesel deal with Russia and the easing of certain sanctions. Trump has recently increased his public criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The ceremony honored a six-day ceasefire in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky, a temporary truce brokered by First Lady Melania Trump. The ceasefire expired on Sunday. Melania Trump, who is Slovenian-born, stated that she was involved in every stage of the planning, including reviewing aerial images and assessing hospital access. She urged the delegations to use the experience from Oleshky to find common ground.
Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia and human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets attended the event. Both delegations presented gifts to the first lady. Dmitriev gave her a drawing of pink hearts from a girl in Oleshky. He noted that the child chose to live with her family in Russia, a reference to the ongoing dispute over displaced Ukrainian children. The Ukrainian delegation presented a state award for the first lady's role in returning children to their families.
Trump envoy Jared Kushner said that US officials in Brussels held productive discussions with Ukraine, NATO, and European partners on Thursday. The talks focused on security guarantees and a broader European security framework. Kushner outlined five principal goals for the negotiations: permanent security consultations, reliable crisis communications, greater military transparency, reciprocal measures to reduce escalation risks, and an enduring framework for long-term stability. He emphasized that NATO would remain central to European collective defense.
The Kremlin expressed hope that Trump will continue his peacemaking efforts despite the Republican Party's electoral defeat. Russian officials also confirmed that preparations are underway for a meeting between Putin, Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. That summit is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting this month. Dmitriev has previously facilitated the release of American detainees in Russia and the reunification of Ukrainian children with their families.
