Putin Tells Witkoff and Kushner Foreign Troops in Ukraine Would Be Legitimate Targets; Witkoff Points to an Imminent Prisoner Exchange

Vladimir Putin met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Thursday 12 November 2026 (21 Aban). According to ISNA, Putin said it was European governments that halted dialogue and that Russia has never opposed talking to Europe; he asked the United States to work with Europe so Europeans can decide whether they want "peace" or "war". Putin also called the possible presence of foreign forces in Ukraine a threat to Russia's national security and said such forces would be legitimate targets.

Witkoff said the Russian and Ukrainian delegations had worked effectively in Abu Dhabi and that an imminent prisoner exchange signals progress. Al Jazeera reports that the trilateral Abu Dhabi talks ended on Wednesday without a breakthrough; Washington says differences remain on issues such as territory while some progress was made on post-war security guarantees, and Kyiv has rejected Putin's demand that it hand over all of Donbas. Witkoff and Kushner are due to meet Zelenskyy in Dublin on Friday 13 November (22 Aban). France's minister for European affairs also said the EU will adopt new sanctions against Russia on Monday 16 November (25 Aban), covering 150 additional entities and 50 banks.