Kyiv Seeks Earlier Abu Dhabi Talks, EU Seat at Table
Ukraine wants a November 10 trilateral summit moved up a week and a European representative included in the negotiations.
By Jessica Abebe ·
Ukraine is pushing to move a planned trilateral round with Washington and Moscow forward by at least a week and to add a European Union representative to the table, according to Ukrainska Pravda. The round is tentatively set for 10 November in Abu Dhabi, after the US congressional midterm elections. As of the evening of 25 October, Moscow had not confirmed any change of date.
Kyiv and Washington have jointly asked Russia to accept an earlier date. A source in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team told the outlet that winter conditions drive the schedule: "In December, every week will be important. When you have no power, water or heating, every single day plays a role." Another source in the President's Office said Russian planners still believe they "will be able to break us this winter."
Ukraine does not expect a breakthrough at the first session. A member of Zelenskyy's team who took part in earlier talks said delegation compositions may change, in which case the opening meeting would serve to familiarize the new participants, substantive work would begin at the second session, and decisions could arrive around the third.
On Europe's role, a source close to the Ukrainian negotiating team said Moscow does not want European figures present at the first meeting. Kyiv intends to bring them to Abu Dhabi and brief them in real time. The source said Europe has no designated representative, so envoys can receive signals but hold no mandate to decide. Over the last two meetings, an EU figure has begun to emerge: Björn Seibert, head of cabinet and closest aide to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Kyiv also wants to reorder the agenda, asking first what peace should look like after the war rather than which village belongs to which side. A source close to the team said the picture should cover the region's future, Ukraine's protection, and cooperation with NATO. The same source said trust in Donald Trump in Ukraine is 6% higher than trust in Vladimir Putin, and that no one there will act purely on Trump's assurances.
Ukrainian sources in Zelenskyy's diplomatic team said Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff passed to Putin the idea of discussing a new security model, and that he agreed. Davyd Arakhamiia, leader of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, told the Americans any final settlement must be acceptable to residents of Kharkiv and Dnipro. US government sources have said the next round could be held in Abu Dhabi or Switzerland. Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian leader, said Russia is ready to resume trilateral negotiations after 4 November. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine will not accept limits on the size of its Armed Forces or neutral status in any peace deal.
