Russia, Ukraine to meet for US-backed talks after the US Mid-term elections

Russian and Ukrainian officials planned to meet for two days of US-brokered talks — their first since February — after President Donald Trump suggested last week that a broad peace deal was possible in their 4-1/2-year-old war and could incorporate Europe's security.



European powers, including France, Germany and the European Commission, will send officials to the talks in Abu Dhabi, but Russia has made it clear it doesn’t want the Europeans to take part in negotiations.



Instead, Ukrainian delegates will meet separately to brief their European allies on the progress of the discussions, which are scheduled to begin at around 0630 GMT on Tuesday, officials in Kyiv said.



Headed again by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky as chief negotiator, Russia's delegation will include Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov for the first time and senior military officer Yuri Zhigarlovsky.



After meeting privately with Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy last week at the White House, Trump predicted that a peace deal could emerge soon.