US presses Russia to include Europe in Ukraine peace talks

US demands Europe join Ukraine negotiations

Donald Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will press Russia to allow Europe to join future negotiations over the continent’s security, according to US officials granted anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The envoys will make the case for Europe to have a direct role in future talks as they mediate the first trilateral discussion with Russia and Ukraine since February in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the officials said.

“We need Europe at the table,” one of the officials said. “So our proposal is to bring the Europeans into the discussion after this trilateral.”

Talks agenda and participants

The two-day session starting Tuesday in Abu Dhabi will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and the potential reshaping of the security architecture of Europe on Day 1. Day 2 would look at territorial issues and other questions.

Senior European officials are due in Abu Dhabi for the meetings this week but, although Kushner and Witkoff are expected to consult them, they will not be involved in the main negotiations due to Russian objections. Those present include security advisers from the U.K., Germany, France, as well as officials from Italy, NATO, the European Commission and European Council.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France will be in Abu Dhabi to take part. “The Europeans will be well represented. France will be in Abu Dhabi to take part,” Barrot told French radio station RTL in an interview.

Positions on Europe’s role

Ukraine insists its European allies must have a seat at the negotiating table, while Russia opposes any such involvement at this stage.

“No one is going to invite them to the negotiating table,” Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov snapped.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Europeans would need to be involved in broader negotiations but only later. “Since the discussion will touch upon the future security architecture in Europe while addressing the mutual security of Russia and Ukraine, at some stage it would be impossible to do it without the Europeans,” he said.

Peskov mocked the EU’s “protracted indecisiveness,” saying that its members “can’t even decide yet who is authorized to speak on their behalf.”

Why it matters

The talks mark the first trilateral discussion between Russia, Ukraine and the United States since February, with the war nearing its five-year mark. The outcome could determine whether Europe gains a formal role in shaping Ukraine’s security and the continent’s future security architecture.

Sources

• politico.eu: US demands a seat for Europe at Ukraine peace talks – POLITICO
• abcnews.com: US-led peace talks for Russia and Ukraine will look at security guarantees for both sides - ABC News
• middle-east-online.com: Europe seeks a seat at Abu Dhabi table in Ukraine peace push | MEO

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.