Ukraine Sets Priorities for Abu Dhabi Talks; Budanov Does Not Expect a Breakthrough

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on November 6 that Kyiv's priorities for the upcoming trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi are security guarantees, de-escalation in the Black Sea, an energy ceasefire, the return of Ukrainian children and prisoner exchanges. According to Sina Finance, citing China Media Group, Sybiha said Ukraine hopes Russia will show equal commitment to the peace process and called for Europe's full participation. He said arrangements concerning Ukraine must not bypass Kyiv, decisions on European security should not be made without Europe, and Europe should take part in all coordination before and after the Abu Dhabi talks. Sybiha said Russia continues to intensify strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities and pressure on the front, causing many Ukrainian civilian casualties. He said Ukraine would continue long-range strikes on Russian territory. Budanov, head of Ukraine's presidential office, said he did not expect a breakthrough from the Abu Dhabi talks, but viewed the two sides' agreement to resume face-to-face talks after several months as progress. He said the talks were neither final nor decisive and would address preparations for ending the current war; he declined to assess their possible outcome. U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff said on social media on the 2nd that the United States would mediate working-level talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on the 10th and 11th. The agenda would include postwar security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian action and further steps toward peace. The talks would mark the resumption of trilateral discussions on the conflict among Russia, the United States and Ukraine after nine months.