Zelensky arrives in Ireland after Abu Dhabi talks
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Le Monde and L’essentiel
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Dublin on Wednesday after two days of US-mediated talks between Ukrainians and Russians in Abu Dhabi. The discussions remain marked by disagreements, but a new large-scale prisoner exchange was agreed, while negotiations are due to continue, according to Le Monde.
The Abu Dhabi talks were difficult, Kyrylo Boudanov, Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, said, while Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said Moscow would achieve the objectives it had set. The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Roustem Oumerov, for his part reported “significant disagreements” between Kyiv and Moscow.
Russia and Ukraine nevertheless agreed on a new “large-scale” prisoner exchange. Vladimir Medinsky said the practical arrangements would be announced later.
The two days of direct talks, the first in more than eight months, also revealed disagreement over Europe’s role in continuing the negotiations. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are due to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, then Volodymyr Zelensky in Dublin to review the exchanges and develop some proposals further.
In Dublin, Zelensky is due to attend the opening plenary session of the European Political Community summit on Thursday and meet the two US envoys.
Update of 12 November 2026: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that there was a window of opportunity to make progress in peace talks with Russia before the end of 2026, upon his arrival in Ireland. Read: Zelensky sees possible breakthrough in peace talks before end of 2026.
