World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Russia Says EU Officials Will Be Excluded From Abu Dhabi Peace Talks
Russia says EU officials will not take part in this week’s Abu Dhabi peace talks with Ukrainian and U.S. representatives.
The talks are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates, with Russian adviser Vladimir Medinsky leading Russia’s delegation.
EU leaders say Europeans will be involved, though it is unclear whether they will join the negotiations or coordinate separately.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen coordinated their positions ahead of the meeting.
European allies fear being left out of decisions about Ukraine’s post-war security, which they say could be negotiated directly between Washington and Moscow.
The talks are meant to advance a three-way process, but the disagreement over Europe’s role remains unresolved.
Russia said European Union officials will not take part in peace talks with Ukrainian and U.S. representatives in Abu Dhabi this week.
The talks are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 10 and 11.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would be present alongside its partners, while a European official said security representatives from several countries and organizations planned to be in Abu Dhabi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had coordinated positions with von der Leyen ahead of the meeting.
The disagreement comes amid European concerns that the United States could negotiate directly with Russia over post-war security arrangements.
- Who
- Russia, Ukraine and the United States are involved in the planned talks. European officials say they also plan to be present.
- What
- Peace talks are scheduled in Abu Dhabi, but Russia says EU officials will be excluded.
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday this week, following the article’s publication on Nov. 9, 2026.
- Where
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Why
- Not stated.
Russia
European Union
Participation
Russia
Russia says EU officials will be excluded from the talks.
European Union
Von der Leyen said the EU would be present alongside its partners, and a European official said security representatives planned to attend in Abu Dhabi.
Role in discussions
Russia
Peskov said the Americans and Ukrainians have their own communication channels with Europeans and are likely building a coordination mechanism with them.
European Union
European representatives say they will be present at the talks; Zelensky said he coordinated positions with von der Leyen regarding the meeting.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine war.
Peskov said EU officials would be excluded from the planned Abu Dhabi talks.
Von der Leyen said the EU would be present, and Zelensky said he had coordinated positions with her regarding the meeting.
Peace talks with Ukrainian and U.S. representatives are scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi.
- Talks location
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Talks dates
- Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 10–11, 2026
- Russia’s spokesman
- Dmitry Peskov
- Russian chief negotiator
- Vladimir Medinsky
- Planned European attendees
- Representatives from the EU, NATO, France, Germany and the U.K.
What people are saying
As for the presence of Europeans, you know that the Americans have their own channels of communication with the Europeans, as do the Ukrainians
EU will be present alongside our partners
coordinated our positions regarding the meeting in Abu Dhabi
We are doing everything to ensure the trilateral format delivers results