Ukraine, together with the United States, is attempting to bring forward the trilateral talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi by at least a week and to involve representatives of the European Union in them. The meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place from around 10 November, following the US mid-term elections. However, Moscow has not yet agreed to the change of date and is opposed to European participation in the first round.
- Ukraine and the US are trying to bring the talks in Abu Dhabi forward by at least a week.
- The meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place from around 10 November, but Russia has not yet agreed to the new date.
- Kyiv is insisting on the involvement of EU representatives, despite Moscow’s objections.
Why does Ukraine want to speed up negotiations with Russia?
Pros. information «According to *Ukrainska Pravda*, Kyiv and Washington are trying to persuade Moscow to agree to hold a trilateral meeting in early November instead of the dates previously set for the 10th of the month.
The Ukrainian side explains the need to speed up the negotiations by citing the approach of winter and the risks to the energy infrastructure. According to a source from the President’s team who spoke to the publication, Vladimir Zelensky, every extra week will make a difference in the face of possible prolonged power, water and heating cuts.
As of the evening of 25 October, Russia had not definitively confirmed its willingness to hold the meeting at an earlier date. At the same time, the very fact of a possible resumption of the trilateral format In Kyiv, this is seen as the result of recent contacts between American negotiators and the Russian leadership.
Kyiv insists on the European Union’s involvement
The issue of the European Union’s representation remains a separate matter. According to *UP*, the Russian side does not wish to allow European officials to attend the first meeting in person.
Despite this, the Ukrainian delegation plans to involve European partners in the negotiation process. One possible option is for them to be present in Abu Dhabi and to receive real-time updates on the progress of the consultations.
Among the potential EU representatives, the following are mentioned: Björn Seibert, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. His name emerged during recent diplomatic discussions.
At the same time, no official decision has been made regarding his participation. According to sources speaking to UP, the European side has not yet appointed a representative with a full mandate to take decisions.
Ukraine wants to discuss security guarantees, not just territory
The Ukrainian negotiating team is proposing to broaden the agenda for future meetings. Rather than focusing exclusively on territorial issues, Kyiv wishes to discuss a model for post-war security in Ukraine and Europe.
This concerns future guarantees for Ukraine’s security, cooperation with NATO and mechanisms that will prevent a repeat of Russian aggression.
According to the publication, US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have already put forward a proposal to Vladimir Putin to discuss a new security system. Sources speaking to UP claim that the Russian president has provisionally agreed to consider this matter, though no specific agreements have been reached as yet.
The Ukrainian side also emphasises that a future peaceful settlement cannot be based solely on political assurances from Washington. For Kyiv, it is essential to establish effective security mechanisms that are understandable to Ukrainian society.
When might the first agreements be reached?
According to sources, the first meeting is unlikely to result in a significant breakthrough. It is expected that the parties will need time to agree on the composition of the delegations, the agenda and the format of future talks.
Substantive discussions on possible agreements may begin during the second round. According to one of the participants in the preliminary consultations, concrete decisions are unlikely to be reached until the third meeting at the earliest.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to enter into negotiations mediated by the US, emphasising the need for reliable security guarantees and the possibility of discussing a ceasefire.
The final date for the next round of trilateral talks has not yet been set.
