European officials head to Abu Dhabi to influence Ukraine war talks from the sidelines
Senior EU, NATO and European national officials are travelling to Abu Dhabi for U.S.-brokered talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine. They are not expected to sit in the room for the main negotiations.
Senior officials from the European Union, NATO and key European capitals are travelling to Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, this week for U.S.-brokered talks aimed at ending Russia's war on Ukraine. Their attendance eases fears that Europe could be shut out of the process entirely.
The talks come amid mounting European concern over possible concessions to Russia. Last week Jared Kushner, son-in-law and adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, said discussions would focus on a "new European security architecture." Russian officials often use the phrase to mean a smaller NATO presence in front-line states and limits on Ukraine's armed forces.
Who is attending
Ukraine will be represented by Rustem Umerov, head of its foreign intelligence service, together with senior officials Kyrylo Budanov and David Arakhamia. Russia's delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. Kushner and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will speak for Washington.
The European group includes national security advisers from France, the U.K., Germany and Italy, plus senior figures from NATO, the European Commission and the European Council. They are Günter Sautter for Germany, Fabrizio Saggio for Italy, Geoffrey van Leeuwen, chief of staff to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Jonathan Powell for the U.K., Bjoern Seibert for the Commission, Anna-Maria Boura for the Council and Emmanuel Bonne for France.
Italy's seat followed a push by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who warned of fragmentation in a letter to European Council President António Costa and asked that it be settled who represents the EU at the table. Costa agreed to put the matter on the agenda.
Format of the talks
According to two senior officials familiar with the arrangement, the Europeans are not expected to be in the room for the main negotiations and are likely to be briefed separately. The Kremlin has objected to their direct participation. A German official said the format would be "determined as the discussions progress."
Sautter's stated position is that a future European security architecture cannot be discussed until Russia agrees to a ceasefire. NATO has no formal role in negotiating a deal; van Leeuwen's task is mainly to observe and report back.
