U.S.-Mediated Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Enter Second Day... Energy Facilities Hit in Overnight Attacks

Trilateral talks resume in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Security guarantees, ceasefire and territorial issues discussed
Attacks on Russian oil port and Ukrainian power facilities

Russia-Ukraine peace talks mediated by the United States continued for a second day on Nov. 11 (local time). The two sides jockeyed for leverage, attacking each other's energy facilities overnight outside the negotiating venue.

U.S.-Russia-Ukraine trilateral talks on ending the war held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. UPI Yonhap News

According to AFP and other news outlets, trilateral peace talks involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine resumed that morning in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Russian delegation is led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, while Ukraine's delegation is led by Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

On the first day, the sides reportedly discussed security guarantees and humanitarian measures, including the release of prisoners. They are expected to address in earnest a security guarantees proposal involving Europe, a ceasefire plan and territorial issues, including Donbas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the first day's talks as "substantive and productive." Russia has not commented.

Attacks continued outside the negotiating venue. Some observers see them as an attempt to gain the upper hand in the talks. According to Russian regional authorities, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at Ust-Luga, a Russian oil export port on the Baltic Sea. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued evacuation alerts in response to the drone threat, while Finland temporarily restricted airspace and maritime traffic in the surrounding area. TASS reported that drone debris struck an apartment building in Russia's Smolensk Oblast, killing two people.

In Ukraine, Russian attacks injured seven people in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and other areas. Power was cut in some areas, including Kryvyi Rih. Serhii Koretsky said that six major power facilities in four regions had been attacked.

The talks resumed after a nine-month suspension caused by the situation in the Middle East. However, many observers say major progress is unlikely because of wide differences over key issues, including territory. The emergence of Europe's security architecture as a new point of contention is also a complicating factor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.