Europe joins Abu Dhabi talks to shape postwar security guarantees
European, Ukrainian and US officials met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to coordinate security guarantees for Ukraine as peace talks with Russia resumed.
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Representatives of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, the United States and NATO met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to coordinate positions before trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US resumed, the European Commission said in a statement.
The discussions focused on security guarantees that should form part of any peace deal, with participants stressing that any settlement must respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and its right to decide its own alliances, the Commission said.
The goal is a practical security framework to strengthen Ukraine's long-term protection and create the conditions for a negotiated agreement, according to the Commission statement. Participants also discussed how existing European security institutions and agreements could help organise the continent's security once the war ends, and ways to reduce the risk of renewed conflict.
Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said the Trump administration's negotiators had been right to place collective security at the top of the agenda for the Ukraine talks, something he said should be welcomed, according to Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL.
France's foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, said French, German and British representatives would be present in the room in Abu Dhabi, though not at the main table with Russia, Ukraine and the US, Defence24 reported. He said European countries would be present "at every table" of discussions, and that G7 foreign ministers meeting the same day in Paris would adopt a joint declaration on Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talk of a security architecture for the period after the war reflected progress in understanding what arrangements might look like once the conflict ends, but that no concrete agreements had yet been reached. EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said EU states would not accept any withdrawal of forces from .
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What we know
- Official · European Commission Officials from the EU, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Ukraine, the US and NATO met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to coordinate on security guarantees ahead of talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US, the European Commission said.
- 2+ outlets · Defence24, G4Media Participants said any peace deal must respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and its right to choose its own alliances.
- Official · Jean-Noël Barrot French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said French, German and British officials would be present in the room, though not at the main table.
- Official · Andrius Kubilius EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius said EU states would not accept any withdrawal of forces from NATO's eastern flank.
- Official · Sergei Lavrov Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said he welcomed negotiators placing collective security at the top of the agenda, according to Current Time.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The Abu Dhabi talks are a further round of US-mediated negotiations on ending Russia's war in Ukraine. European governments are not at the main negotiating table with Russia, Ukraine and the US, but are seeking to shape any security guarantees that emerge, mindful that Russia has previously demanded NATO withdraw forces from countries that joined after 1997, including Poland and the Baltic states.
Sources
Reported by 7 reports from 7 independent outlets in 5 countries.
- Current Time: Без отведения сил НАТО. Что будут обсуждать в рамках новой европейской "архитектуры безопасности" в Абу-Даби?
- Onet Wiadomości: Kto jest kim podczas rozmów w Abu Zabi. Europa wysłała "Pana Wilka", który zawodowo rozwiązuje problemy
- Interfax: Главком НАТО в Европе заявил о продолжении работы над долгосрочным миром в регионе
- Defence24: Negocjacje pokojowe Ukraina-Rosja. Europa jednak obecna
- G4Media: UE, Ucraina și SUA au discutat la Abu Dhabi despre garanțiile de securitate după încheierea războiului cu Rusia
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Who is taking part in the Abu Dhabi talks?
- Russia, Ukraine and the United States are holding the main talks; the EU, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and NATO sent representatives to coordinate separately in Abu Dhabi.
- What is being discussed?
- Security guarantees that should form part of any peace settlement for Ukraine, including the possible role of NATO and European security arrangements after the war.
- Will NATO forces be withdrawn from Eastern Europe?
- EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius said EU states would not accept any withdrawal of NATO forces from the eastern flank.
This article was written with AI assistance from 6 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.