Russia rules out Ukraine’s European allies from next talks
MOSCOW — Russia says European countries will have no place at the next round of Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi, contradicting Finland’s account of their expected involvement. The disagreement exposes an unresolved question over who will participate as Kyiv pushes for its European allies to join negotiations with Russia and the United States.
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the planned technical talks would involve Russian, Ukrainian and American representatives. He maintained that European participation had not been agreed and that no invitation would be extended to them.
Conflicting accounts of Europe’s role
Finnish President Alexander Stubb offered a different account, telling the Nordic Council that European countries would participate in November’s Abu Dhabi talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said Kyiv wanted Europe involved.
The dispute follows a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on 27 October. Støre defended the contact as an opportunity to convey European views on ending the war. Finland and Norway said their leaders represented their own countries, rather than Europe collectively.
Meeting date still awaits agreement
Ushakov did not confirm the timing put forward by Zelenskyy, saying the meeting date would be announced later. European Pravda reported that Zelenskyy had also indicated that convening the Ukrainian, Russian and American technical teams depended on the United States.
The competing statements leave both the final attendance list and timetable unsettled. Ukraine’s request for European participation remains at odds with Moscow’s position, with no jointly confirmed arrangement establishing how that disagreement will be resolved.
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