Abu Dhabi Talks: US Envoys Push for European Inclusion
Kushner and Witkoff aim to end the trilateral format after this week's meeting, forcing a rapid decision on European representation.
By Robert Ward ·
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will pressure Russia to allow European participation in upcoming peace negotiations.
The pair are mediating the first trilateral talks between Russia and Ukraine since February. The meeting is scheduled for 10 November in Abu Dhabi. US officials stated that the envoys intend to insist on a direct role for Europe in the process. They want this week's session to be the final meeting held without full European participation.
European governments and EU institutions face a tight timeline to determine their representatives. The US team seeks to accelerate the pace of diplomacy. One official told Politico, "We need Europe at the table." That official added, "So our proposal is to bring the Europeans into the discussion after this trilateral."
US officials welcomed recent direct contact between European leaders and Moscow. Finnish and Norwegian leaders called Russian President Vladimir Putin on 27 October. The US views this as a positive step toward more active engagement. Officials argued that Europeans need to convey their messages directly to Russia. They stated, "We need a lot more European discussions with Russia so that they could be hearing what we're hearing."
The selection of a European spokesperson remains a contentious issue. EU leaders will address the matter at an informal summit in Dublin later this week. Some European governments worry that President Donald Trump may concede to Putin’s demands to reduce NATO’s influence. US officials countered that NATO will remain central to Europe’s collective defense. They maintained that the relationship with Russia requires a fundamental rethink.
One official noted that Europeans have historical baggage regarding security architecture revisions. Previous agreements have failed, and Russia has proposed various changes in the past. The official declared, "We have to build something new that works today."
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul rejected calls for a new European security architecture as a solution to the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the US administration on 7 November that the proposed security plan could be dangerous. He cited Russia’s lack of desire to end the conflict as the primary concern.
