Europeans join Abu Dhabi talks in bid to thwart Russian security demands

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1. 19m ago

   European envoys join U.S.-brokered Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi despite Kremlin objections

   European representatives are participating in trilateral Ukraine peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi alongside U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian delegations, marking the first such talks in nine months. The discussions, brokered by Washington, focus on post-war security guarantees and territorial issues. Moscow had opposed European involvement, but U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner pressed for EU participation after meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed Paris will be represented. Previous rounds excluded European officials from the negotiating table, though they were consulted informally.

   Why it matters

   The Abu Dhabi talks represent a significant diplomatic shift by including European powers directly in negotiations they were previously sidelined from. Security guarantees for Ukraine remain the central sticking point, with Russia demanding limits on Western military presence and Kyiv seeking binding commitments. The Kremlin's initial resistance to European participation reflects its preference for bilateral deals with Washington, but U.S. insistence on EU involvement signals a broader coalition approach. Fighting continues in Donbas during the talks.

   What is confirmed

   • Trilateral Ukraine peace talks involving U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian delegations resumed in Abu Dhabi this week after a nine-month hiatus.
   • European representatives are now participating directly in the negotiations, whereas previous rounds excluded them from the table.
   • U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Vladimir Putin in Moscow for over two hours before the Abu Dhabi session and advocated for EU involvement.
   • French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed France will be represented at the talks.
   • The negotiations focus on post-war security guarantees and territorial control in Donbas.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Russia and Ukraine are showing flexibility on territorial issues, according to a U.S. official.
   • The Kremlin may announce the date for a follow-up trilateral meeting with EU participation after the current session.

   What to watch next

   • Whether a joint communiqué or framework agreement emerges from the Abu Dhabi session
   • Kremlin reaction to formal European participation in subsequent rounds
   • Progress on defining security guarantees acceptable to both Kyiv and Moscow
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. NPR — Europe to join U.S.-brokered Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi, defying Kremlin objections
   2. The Guardian — Ukraine war briefing: post war ‘security guarantees’ a key focus in upcoming Abu Dhabi talks, says Rubio
   3. Financial Times — Europeans join Abu Dhabi talks in bid to thwart Russian security demands
   4. The New York Times — Ukraine Peace Talks Resume This Week in Abu Dhabi
   5. Al Jazeera — ‘No concession’: What to expect from Russia-US-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi
   6. CNN — Ukraine peace talks to restart after 9 months. What makes them different this time?
   7. The Washington Post — U.S. gives Russia an early win before Ukraine peace talks begin in Abu Dhabi
   8. Reuters — Russia and Ukraine showing flexibility on territory, US official says
   9. jen.jiji.com — Ukraine-Russia, Witkoff and Kushner pressing: "EU participate in talks". Putin: "Europeans decide if they want peace or war"
   10. jen.jiji.com — Women on board in Brussels, European agreement to strengthen female leadership
   11. theconversation.com — Ukraine peace talks end with no breakthrough – but Europe may be set to return from the cold
   12. www.rferl.org — The Week In Russia: Arrests, Attacks, And A Familiar Kremlin Refrain
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