US envoys press Russia to let Europe into Ukraine peace talks
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner want this week's Abu Dhabi round to be the last without full European participation, Politico reported, as talks resumed Tuesday.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will press Russia to accept direct European participation in the next round of Ukraine peace talks, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed US officials. The White House wants this week's trilateral round in Abu Dhabi to be the last without full European involvement, according to the report.
Russian, Ukrainian and US delegations began two days of talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the first trilateral meeting since February, Meduza reported. Ukraine's delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, met separately beforehand with representatives of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission, as well as with Witkoff and Kushner, to coordinate positions.
Russia's delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky and includes deputy foreign ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, Meduza reported. Russia has said it does not see a place for Europeans at the table with Ukraine and the Americans, Cyprus Mail reported, even as Washington presses for their inclusion in future rounds.
US officials have offered Russia security guarantees for Ukraine modelled on NATO's Articles 4 and 5, Euromaidan Press reported, citing Radio Svoboda; officials also raised reviving the NATO-Russia Council and lifting sanctions as part of a possible deal. Negotiators have also discussed redrawing the borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, according to the Economist, cited by Euromaidan Press.
Russian strikes killed three people in Odesa on the eve of the talks and also cut power in Dnipro and Kamianske, Euromaidan Press reported. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine hand over the remainder of Donetsk before any ceasefire, which Kyiv has rejected.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for Europe to agree on a single representative with a clear mandate, warning in a letter to European Council President António Costa that overlapping initiatives weaken the continent's influence, Kyiv Post reported. EU leaders are expected to discuss European representation at an informal summit in Dublin later this week.
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What we know
- 2+ outlets · Georgia Today, Kyiv Post US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will press Russia to let Europe join future rounds of Ukraine peace talks, Politico reported.
- 2+ outlets · Meduza, Cyprus Mail +1 Russian, Ukrainian and US delegations opened two days of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the first since February.
- 2+ outlets · Meduza, Kyiv Post Ukraine's delegation, led by Rustem Umerov, held separate talks with European and NATO representatives before the main session.
- Official · Russian government Russia has said it does not see a role for Europeans in the talks with Ukraine and the US.
- Official · US officials US officials have proposed security guarantees for Ukraine modelled on NATO's Articles 4 and 5.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed Whether this week's round will be the last without European participation, as described by Politico's sources, has not been confirmed by any government.
- Unconfirmed No delegation has confirmed agreement on the border changes reportedly discussed.
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
Figure history
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Why it matters for Europe
Europe has had no seat at the main table in the US-mediated talks, even though any security guarantees for Ukraine would depend on European governments and NATO. Washington's push to bring in European representatives could determine how much influence the continent has over an eventual settlement, including decisions on Ukrainian territory and future NATO-style guarantees.
The talks are the first trilateral round since February; Russian strikes have continued to hit Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, including the overnight power cuts in Dnipro and Kamianske reported by Euromaidan Press. Meloni's call for a unified European position reflects concern in EU capitals that a deal negotiated mainly between Washington and Moscow could leave Europe committed to guarantees it had no part in shaping.
Sources
Reported by 7 reports from 7 independent outlets in 6 countries.
- Georgia Today: Politico: Trump’s envoys to press Russia to allow Europe to join peace talks
- Cyprus Mail: Russia and Ukraine resume US-brokered peace talks
- Meduza: Russia, Ukraine, and U.S. begin trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi
- Euromaidan Press: Day one in Abu Dhabi: US officials’ “real chance” again runs into Russia’s unchanged demand for the rest of Donetsk Oblast, unacceptable for Ukraine
- Kyiv Post: US Urges Russia to Let Europe Join Ukraine Talks
Source balance
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Intelligence file
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Confidence and impact scores, 4 more sources, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Questions and answers
- Why does the US want Europe included in the Ukraine talks?
- US officials told Politico that Washington wants this week's trilateral round to be the last without full European participation.
- Who is negotiating in Abu Dhabi?
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for the US, Rustem Umerov for Ukraine and Vladimir Medinsky for Russia, in talks running 10-11 November.
- What is Russia's position on Europe joining?
- Russia has said it does not see a place for Europeans at the table alongside Ukraine and the US, Cyprus Mail reported.
This article was written with AI assistance from 9 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.