The United States will host trilateral talks involving Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November. From 9 to 22 November, south-eastern Poland will host the first exercise of the multinational force designed to support Ukraine once the fighting stops. Two announcements from the past 24 hours show that both Washington and Europe are preparing for a peace scenario, although no deal is yet in place.
Talks in Abu Dhabi
US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced on X on Monday 2 November that the US would mediate working-level talks covering post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and “next steps toward peace”. According to Reuters, cited by the Kyiv Post and the Times of Israel, the US will be represented by Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Before that, US negotiators will meet representatives of France, Germany, the UK, the EU and NATO in Brussels this week to discuss guarantees for Ukraine, reconstruction and Europe’s future security architecture.
The two sides remain far apart. The Kyiv Post notes that President Zelensky wants Article 5-style guarantees backed by a vote in the US Congress. Russia, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, expects Ukraine to drop its NATO ambitions and accept no foreign troops. Earlier rounds (two in Abu Dhabi and one in Geneva, early this year) produced progress on prisoner exchanges but no comprehensive agreement.
Exercise Koalicja in Poland
On Tuesday 3 November the UK Ministry of Defence announced an exercise with the Polish name Koalicja (“Coalition”). Around 2,800 troops from 11 countries will take part: Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye and the UK. Britain will send 300 personnel and France, according to the Danish agency Ritzau, 1,100.
It is the first major exercise of the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), the military arm of the Coalition of the Willing, jointly led by the UK and France. Troops will rehearse command and control, moving people and equipment, and integrating units. RAF Typhoons and a Voyager tanker will simulate reassuring civilian air traffic once Ukraine’s skies reopen, while Turkish forces in Istanbul will test mine clearance for shipping.
According to the UK government, the force would deploy only after fighting has stopped and at Kyiv’s request. It would not conduct peacekeeping or ceasefire monitoring. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said it was “not a hypothetical plan” but a real force.
What it means for Poles in the UK
Our view: Poland is becoming the logistical hub of any future peace, and Britain one of its organisers. The evidence: the exercise takes place on Polish soil, the MNF-U headquarters is moving from Paris to London this year, according to the UK government, and Britain and France lead the operation.
For businesses this is a signal for the future: rebuilding Ukraine and its defences will require transport, construction and services, with Poland and the UK as key partners. For now, however, these are preparations only; without a peace deal the force will not deploy.
Caution is warranted: previous talks have failed to deliver a breakthrough, and both sides set conflicting conditions. More will be known after the meetings in Brussels and Abu Dhabi.
Sources:
- Kyiv Post: US Sets Nov. 10–11 Ukraine-Russia Talks in Abu Dhabi as Trump Pushes for Peace Deal (2.11.2026)
- Times of Israel (citing Reuters): US, Ukraine and Russia to hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi next week (2.11.2026)
- GOV.UK: UK to lead multinational military training exercise to prepare for peace in Ukraine (3.11.2026)
- The Copenhagen Post (Ritzau): European allies to rehearse deployment of multinational force to postwar Ukraine (3.11.2026)
We assess factual corrections and substantive responses. Verified changes are reflected in our reporting.
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