U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, that a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be organized “very soon” to accelerate peace negotiations. ​
Speaking to reporters during a morning briefing at the White House, President Trump expressed strong optimism about the potential encounter, stating, “There’ll be a meeting set up very soon, and I think a lot of progress could be made”.
The announcement marks a major diplomatic push by the Washington administration to broker a direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv aimed at establishing a framework to bring the long-standing war in Ukraine to an end.
​The proposed diplomatic summit is slated for November 2026, building upon momentum from broader trilateral negotiations. Kremlin Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov previously acknowledged that high-level contacts between Russian, Ukrainian, and American envoys have pointed toward holding trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with Russia eyeing dates following November 10. ​
Speaking during a television interview, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv is actively preparing for trilateral discussions involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine in early November, emphasizing that core territorial disputes must be addressed directly at the leadership level. ​
While direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian heads of state have historically faced significant hurdles, the upcoming summit in Abu Dhabi represents a critical structural shift in diplomatic efforts. Official updates regarding the exact date and full delegation compositions are expected from Washington, Moscow, and regional hosts in the coming days.
