The European Commission is hosting talks in Brussels on Wednesday with the US, Ukraine, NATO, France, Germany, Britain and the World Bank to discuss what can be done to help Kyiv through the winter; the meeting is expected to help coordinate positions ahead of a trilateral Ukraine-Russia-US meeting planned for Nov 10 in Abu Dhabi.
The meeting comes after another night of heavy Russian attacks on Ukraine, hitting power stations in Kyiv and Zhytomyr and a cargo vessel at sea near Odesa. US special envoy Steve Witkoff said US negotiators would meet their European partners in Brussels and announced that the next round of trilateral talks between Moscow, Kyiv and Washington would take place on Nov 10.
The Brussels meeting would build on earlier talks in Miami, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed alliance representatives would meet officials from France, Germany, Britain and the US later this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the meeting would be held at the level of technical teams, and Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter, that discussions were expected to include a proposed "prosperity plan" for Ukraine and security guarantees.
The trilateral meeting was initially expected to take place in October, after envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Ukraine and Russia. The visits resulted in an agreement in principle to hold negotiations. The Kremlin later declined to take part, accusing Kyiv of carrying out airstrikes on election day, Sept 20. Moscow has repeatedly rejected Western-backed proposals for a full and unconditional ceasefire, which Kyiv supports, while continuing to demand that Ukraine cede the Donbas.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The talks are meant to help Ukraine through the winter, immediately after strikes on power stations in Kyiv and Zhytomyr and on a cargo vessel near Odesa.
- The Nov 10 round would be the first Ukraine-Russia-US meeting since the October attempt collapsed, a test of the US-led peace process.
- Security guarantees and the proposed "prosperity plan" on the Brussels agenda would shape what any settlement offers Ukraine.
Background
The US has been pressing for direct Ukraine-Russia negotiations since Trump's return to office, with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visiting both capitals. That push produced an agreement in principle to hold talks, but the Kremlin withdrew from the planned October round over accusations that Kyiv carried out airstrikes on election day. With fighting continuing, Moscow has rejected Western-backed ceasefire proposals while Ukraine has supported them.
Key Perspectives
Kyiv: supports Western-backed proposals for a full and unconditional ceasefire.
Moscow: has repeatedly rejected those proposals and continues to demand Ukraine cede the Donbas; it also declined to take part in the planned October round, accusing Kyiv of airstrikes on election day, Sept 20.
What to Watch
- Whether the Nov 10 meeting in Abu Dhabi actually brings Ukrainian and Russian representatives to the table after the Kremlin's withdrawal from the October round.
- What the Brussels talks deliver on winter aid as Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure continue.
- Whether the "prosperity plan" and security guarantees discussed in Brussels are carried into the trilateral negotiations.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe EU is hosting Ukraine talks in Brussels ahead of a Nov. 10 trilateral round.Kyiv Independent: “The European Commission will host talks on Ukraine in Brussels on Nov. 4”
- SupportedThe Commission meeting brings together representatives of Ukraine, the US, NATO, France, Germany, Britain and the World Bank to discuss support for Kyiv through winter.Kyiv Independent: “The European Commission will host a meeting with representatives from Ukraine, the U.S., France, Germany, the U.K., NATO, and the World Bank”
- SupportedThe Brussels meeting is expected to coordinate positions ahead of planned trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10.Kyiv Independent: “The meeting is expected to help coordinate positions ahead of the next round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S., which Washington plans to hold in Abu Dhabi.”
- SupportedThe meeting follows another night of heavy Russian attacks, hitting power stations in Kyiv and Zhytomyr and a cargo vessel near Odesa.World news | The Guardian: “Their talks come after another night of heavy attacks on Ukraine, hitting power stations in Kyiv and Zhytomyr and a cargo vessel at sea near Odesa.”
- SupportedSteve Witkoff said US negotiators would meet European partners in Brussels and announced that the next trilateral round would take place on Nov. 10.Kyiv Independent: “U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Nov. 3 that the next round of trilateral talks between Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington would take place on Nov. 10.”
- SupportedPaula Pinho said the Brussels meeting would build on earlier talks in Miami.Kyiv Independent: ““The European Commission will host a meeting with representatives from Ukraine, the U.S., France, Germany, the U.K., NATO, and the World Bank, and this meeting will build on earlier talks that took place in Miami,” Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho told reporters.”
- SupportedNATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed alliance representatives would meet officials from France, Germany, Britain and the US later that week.Kyiv Independent: “NATO spokesperson Allison Hart also confirmed that alliance representatives would meet with officials from France, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S. later this week.”
- SupportedZelensky said the meeting would be held at the level of technical teams.Kyiv Independent: “President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the meeting would be held at the level of technical teams.”
- SupportedReuters, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that discussions were expected to include a proposed “prosperity plan” and security guarantees.Kyiv Independent: “The talks are expected to include discussions of a proposed "prosperity plan" for Ukraine and security guarantees, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.”
- SupportedThe trilateral meeting was initially expected in October after Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Ukraine and Russia, and the visits resulted in an agreement in principle to hold negotiations.Kyiv Independent: “The trilateral meeting was initially expected to take place in October, after U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Ukraine and Russia. The visits resulted in an agreement in principle to hold negotiations”
- SupportedThe Kremlin later declined to take part, accusing Kyiv of carrying out airstrikes on election day, Sept. 20.Kyiv Independent: “but the Kremlin later declined to participate, accusing Kyiv of carrying out airstrikes on election day on Sept. 20.”
- SupportedMoscow has repeatedly rejected Western-backed proposals for a full and unconditional ceasefire, which Kyiv supports, while continuing to demand that Ukraine cede the Donbas.Kyiv Independent: “Moscow has repeatedly rejected Western-backed proposals for a full and unconditional ceasefire, which Kyiv has supported, while continuing to demand that Ukraine cede Donbas.”