EU and NATO representatives to attend Abu Dhabi talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine
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Media outlets have learned that the EU will be represented at the talks in Abu Dhabi (Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman)
NATO and several European Union countries will be represented at talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11 aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine, Ukrainian delegation chief Rustem Umerov said on Nov. 9.
Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, confirmed that representatives of European countries, including the E4 group — the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy — as well as NATO and the European Commission, would be in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10-11.
According to Umerov, separate coordination meetings will be held with European partners.
"It is essential for us to maintain close coordination with all our key partners, ensure that our positions are aligned and establish a shared understanding of the next steps in the negotiation process. As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed, we are doing everything possible to ensure Europe's participation in the diplomatic process," Umerov stressed.
Earlier, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported, citing an EU official, that a joint delegation from the European Commission and the European Council would be present in the United Arab Emirates.
A NATO official told Suspilne that the alliance would be represented in Abu Dhabi by Geoffrey van Leeuwen, chief of staff to the NATO secretary-general.
European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho said the commission would be represented at the national security adviser level by Björn Seibert, head of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Cabinet.
"The EU must be present, and we are indeed ready to negotiate with those most directly concerned, which is why we are emphasizing this once again. We will participate in the meetings taking place this week. The exact format [of EU participation] has yet to be determined," Pinho said at a briefing.
Germany will be represented by Günter Sautter, foreign and security policy adviser to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The decision was made in close coordination with partners, including the United States, EU countries and NATO.
Meanwhile, a source in the Ukrainian delegation told Suspilne that it was still "not entirely clear" in what format European representatives would participate in the Abu Dhabi talks.
On Nov. 9, Umerov, who heads Ukraine's delegation and the country's Foreign Intelligence Service, announced that Ukrainian representatives had departed for Abu Dhabi.
"Our goal is a lasting and sustainable peace, guaranteed security for Ukraine and real opportunities for Ukraine's postwar recovery," Umerov wrote.
He clarified that trilateral talks would take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday. Representatives of European countries, including the E4 group — the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy — as well as NATO and the European Commission, will also be in Abu Dhabi on those days.
Ukraine will hold separate coordination meetings with its European partners, Umerov said.
On Nov. 9, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi would take place without European participation.
"What will take place in Abu Dhabi in the coming days are trilateral negotiations between Russia and Ukraine mediated by the United States," Peskov said.
On Nov. 8, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Europe would be represented at the Abu Dhabi talks. According to Barrot, France would represent Europe's position.
Abu Dhabi talks
Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to hold U.S.-mediated talks in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 10-11, the first such negotiations since February 2026.
The Russian delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Vladimir Putin. It will also include Igor Kostyukov and Yuri Zhigarlovsky, representatives of two departments of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, as well as Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin. Ryabkov will participate for the first time.
Bloomberg reported that Russia would send a higher-level delegation to the Abu Dhabi talks with Ukraine than in previous rounds, potentially signaling Moscow's willingness to engage in more substantive negotiations.
Ukraine's Presidential Office has not officially announced the composition of its delegation, but media reports indicate that it will be led by Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov.
Security guarantees will be among the key topics of the meeting, according to U.S. officials.
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