Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that negotiation teams from Ukraine, Russia and the United States are expected to meet in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November to launch a new round of peace talks aimed at ending the war.

Speaking via video link to the Hudson Institute think tank on Oct. 23, Zelensky said Kyiv was prepared to begin discussions immediately but that the meeting depended on Moscow’s willingness to participate.

“The plan is to meet in the first half of November and as early as possible, of course, but we are ready to meet any day, even tomorrow,” Zelensky said, accusing Russia of previously offering reasons to delay a planned trilateral meeting in October.

The negotiations are expected to begin at the technical level, involving representatives from all three countries. If those discussions make progress, they could pave the way for a meeting between Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

“We need to move from trilateral negotiations at the technical level to a meeting of leaders, because the key issues can only be resolved at that level,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky stressed that any potential peace agreement must include strong security guarantees for Ukraine and ensure Europe has a role in the negotiations.

He said Ukraine would need to maintain a large military force after a peace deal, with funding secured for at least 10 years to protect the country against future threats.

The Ukrainian president's comments underscore Kyiv's insistence that negotiations must address not only the cessation of hostilities but also the country's long-term security and defense capabilities.

Zelensky also disclosed that he had just concluded a conversation with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff about the negotiations.

Witkoff met Zelensky in Oslo earlier in the week before holding discussions with Putin, as diplomatic contacts continued amid uncertainty over the prospects for a settlement.

During his address, Zelensky also raised concerns over continuing restrictions affecting Ukraine's access to Starlink and Starshield satellite communications systems.

“The speed restrictions for Starlink and Starshield are still in effect,” he said, adding that the supply of interceptor missiles needed to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks remained delayed.

Starshield is the militarized version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet system. Restrictions on the systems' operating speeds have reportedly reduced Ukraine's ability to coordinate military operations and defend against Russian drone attacks.

The disruption has raised concerns about Kyiv's communications capabilities as Ukrainian and US officials reportedly discuss the issue. However, no party had publicly accepted responsibility for the restrictions at the time of the report.

Zelensky also expressed hope that Ukraine could strengthen its relationship with Washington despite growing tensions with the Trump administration.

“I really want our relations between Ukraine and America and with all our other partners to be just as strong as possible,” he said, describing a strong US role in international affairs as important for global stability.

Relations between Kyiv and Washington have come under pressure in recent weeks following Trump's criticism of Zelensky, disagreements over military assistance and the US president's announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that failed to materialize in practice.

The Trump administration has also faced criticism over its decision to ease certain sanctions on Russian oil exports and its reported consideration of limiting intelligence-sharing with Ukraine.

Trump has defended easing sanctions on Russian oil, arguing that the move could encourage Moscow to participate in peace negotiations.

The planned Abu Dhabi meeting could provide a new diplomatic opening, but significant questions remain over Russia's participation, the terms of a possible settlement and the security arrangements that would follow any agreement.

No final agreement has been announced, and the proposed talks remain contingent on the parties proceeding with the planned negotiations. (ILKHA)