US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today, Thursday, November 12, 2026, to present a proposal for a new security agreement with Europe aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.Following their meeting with Putin, Kushner and Witkoff are expected to travel to Dublin, Ireland, to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tonight.This diplomatic initiative follows a round of US-mediated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, 2026, where both sides agreed in principle to a large-scale prisoner exchange.US President Donald Trump, who took office in 2025, had pledged to help facilitate an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Trump administration believes that a comprehensive agreement on Europe’s future security architecture with Russia is the only way to end the war in Ukraine. While the US previously rejected Russian demands to scale back NATO’s military presence in Eastern Europe, it now appears open to considering these demands as part of a broader agreement to end the war.Last week, Trump stated that a deal to resolve the conflict could emerge soon after he met privately with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Following the Abu Dhabi talks, Kushner noted that discussions were “pretty tough,” though a US official expressed “cautious optimism that progress could be made.”Many European governments, however, view the Trump administration’s approach to such a security agreement with skepticism. European officials are concerned that accepting Russia’s security demands could necessitate reducing NATO’s military presence in Eastern Europe, potentially leaving allies more vulnerable to Russian pressure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in an interview on November 6, 2026, that an agreement between Europe and Russia without first addressing the war in Ukraine could be dangerous.The government of Nepal has urged Nepali citizens in Ukraine to return home and has imposed a complete ban on travel to Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it is discussing the safety of Nepali citizens with both Russian and Ukrainian officials. As of 2026, approximately 200 Nepali citizens are reported to have died while serving in the Russian army, with 42 families having received compensation.After the meetings in Moscow and Dublin, Davyd Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian negotiating team, stated that a new round of talks should be scheduled. President Zelensky is expected to be briefed on the prisoner exchange plan, which could involve 1,000 to 1,200 prisoners.
Background
- Russian and Ukrainian officials met with US mediators in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, 2026, for the first time since February.
Why it matters for Nepal
The government of Nepal has urged Nepali citizens in Ukraine to return home and has banned travel to Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is discussing the safety of Nepali citizens with Russian and Ukrainian officials, as approximately 200 Nepalis are reported to have died serving in the Russian army by 2026.
