Kushner and Witkoff meet Putin after Abu Dhabi talks
Where it stands
Abu Dhabi talks ended with an agreement in principle for a large prisoner exchange but no major peace breakthrough; Kushner and Witkoff met Putin for about two hours and headed to Dublin, with no ceasefire or comprehensive agreement announced by the review cutoff.
Sources reviewed: Nov 12, 2026 · 11:17 AM EST
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on November 12 after two days of U.S.-mediated talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Abu Dhabi, Associated Press reported. The Abu Dhabi negotiations produced an agreement in principle for a large prisoner exchange, with the exact number still to be announced, but no major breakthrough toward ending the war.
AP said the envoys briefed Putin in a meeting lasting about two hours and then headed to Dublin for planned talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Moscow meeting and travel are diplomatic steps, not a ceasefire, territorial settlement or completed peace agreement.
The response.
Kushner said Russian and Ukrainian delegations agreed on many principles but remained apart over implementation. AP reported that Putin again rejected European troops in Ukraine after a ceasefire and maintained Russia's territorial demands. Zelenskyy called the proposed prisoner exchange positive but said Ukraine would not surrender Russian-occupied territory for peace; his official November 11 statement said European participation was essential and confirmed that he expected to meet Kushner and Witkoff in Dublin. The Dublin meeting had not been publicly reported as completed by the Ledger's review cutoff. The White House did not publish a separate readout of the Moscow meeting in the records reviewed. Trump's earlier prediction of a broad agreement therefore remains a prediction rather than an achieved settlement.
Dates & scope
Source publication: Nov 5, 2026 · 11:17 AM EST
Event or conduct: 2026-11-05.
Full chronology and review notes
Trump confirmed the private Dmitriev meeting on November 5. U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks took place November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi. Associated Press reported on November 12 that Kushner and Witkoff then met Putin for about two hours in Moscow and headed to Dublin for planned talks with Zelenskyy. The Ledger reviewed AP's updated report, Reuters' arrival report and Zelenskyy's November 11 official statement at 11:17 a.m. EST November 12. The October 27–November 1 Oleshky ceasefire, the November 5 meeting, the November 10–11 negotiations, the November 12 Moscow meeting, source publication and Ledger review are distinct events.
This is a dated report. The source-review time records when the linked sources were checked; it is not a live update.
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Open the original record.
- Associated Press: Trump meets with top Putin envoy at the White House — but not visiting Ukrainian officials ↗
Independent November 5 report updated after Trump confirmed the meeting; describes the separate White House event, Kushner's Brussels statement, Ukraine's response and the absence of a White House answer about the Ukrainian delegation
- Reuters: Trump says he met Putin envoy, sees Ukraine deal soon ↗
Independent November 5 report confirming Trump's account of the private meeting, his refusal to give details, Kushner's stated negotiating goals and the planned November 10–11 Abu Dhabi talks
- The White House: First Lady Melania Trump Unites Russia and Ukraine at The White House Following Historic Ceasefire ↗
Primary November 5 administration statement and prepared remarks about the Oleshky operation and White House event; it says written agreements were signed but does not link or reproduce them
- Associated Press: US envoys meet with Putin in Moscow on Ukraine talks, then head for Dublin to see Zelenskyy ↗
Independent November 12 report confirming the two-hour Putin meeting, the prisoner-exchange agreement in principle, the absence of a major peace breakthrough, the parties' remaining positions and the envoys' onward travel to Dublin
- Reuters: US envoys arrive in Moscow for latest round of Ukrainian peace talks with Putin ↗
Independent November 12 arrival report describing the completed Abu Dhabi talks, planned prisoner exchange, unresolved territorial issues and scheduled Moscow and Dublin meetings; it preceded the reported completion of the Putin meeting
- President of Ukraine: Statement by the President of Ukraine during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Ireland ↗
Primary November 11 statement confirming European participation in the Abu Dhabi discussions, Zelenskyy's demand for European involvement and his expected November 12 Dublin meeting with Kushner and Witkoff
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