Ukrainian official hopeful about possible Zelensky-Putin meeting ahead of Abu Dhabi trilateral talks

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, told CBS News that the trilateral negotiations scheduled for Nov. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi give reason for "restrained optimism" that a future meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin could be achieved. The talks, the first three-way meeting since February, will focus on post-war security guarantees for Ukraine and Russia.

Budanov, who previously led the Defense Intelligence service, will travel with chief negotiator Rustem Umerov. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are slated to represent Washington, while Russia will be represented by aide Vladimir Medinsky, who headed earlier negotiation rounds.

"We look forward to building on the progress made in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg toward a comprehensive, durable peace agreement that delivers lasting security for generations to come," Witkoff said in announcing the talks.

The meeting comes after recent tensions in the U.S.–Ukraine relationship, including President Trump’s announcement of a diesel-supply deal with Russia and SpaceX’s temporary throttling of Ukraine’s Starshield satellite network, which Budanov described as a resolved issue that nonetheless underscores the need for continued cooperation.

Budanov also warned that Russia’s recent strikes on energy infrastructure in ten regions are intended to create political pressure and social unrest, but he said such tactics would not succeed.

The trilateral talks aim to build on earlier diplomatic efforts while addressing the immediate humanitarian impact of the attacks, which have left hundreds of thousands without electricity and disrupted water supplies in Kyiv.