The European Union will send a joint team of senior officials to this week's US-mediated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, the bloc's leadership confirmed, as European leaders debated how the bloc should be represented.
The EU will be present alongside our partners, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, adding that she reiterated her support for a ceasefire covering food and energy infrastructure. The EU delegation will be led by von der Leyen's chief of cabinet Bjoern Seibert and Anna-Maria Boura, advisor to European Council President António Costa. France, Germany and the United Kingdom will also attend, and NATO will be represented.
The talks, scheduled for 10–11 November, will mark the resumption of trilateral peace negotiations since February. US President Donald Trump has indicated a major deal is in the making, raising the prospect of a settlement that could leave Ukraine with altered borders, as European governments fear decisions on the continent's security could be taken without them.
The intra-European push for a unified position was underscored by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who sent a letter to Costa complaining about the disarray in diplomatic formats and demanding the appointment of a special European envoy. Costa has agreed to put the issue on the agenda of the informal EU leaders' summit in Dublin this Friday. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski agreed with Meloni and warned that Eastern European interests should be considered. “The last thing we want is Western Europe dealing with Russia, over the heads of the East Europeans,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has supported European involvement, spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday about diplomatic developments, asking what steps India could take to help bring the war to an end. Zelenskyy said they discussed Russia's blocking of grain exports via the Black Sea and that India was ready to help mediate the establishment of food corridors. India has maintained a neutral stance.
The G7 foreign ministers are meeting in Paris on Monday and Tuesday to discuss how Europe can play a greater role in US efforts to end the war. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Europeans would be well represented in Abu Dhabi. The exact format of the European presence remains unclear, though the list of representatives seems to match what has previously been called the Miami Format.
Ukraine's delegation will be headed by foreign intelligence chief Rustem Umerov. Russia's delegation will be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. US special envoy Jared Kushner, who recently laid out a broad vision for a new European security framework, will represent Washington alongside Steve Witkoff. Zelenskyy has called Kushner's post dangerous and said debates on a new European security framework should follow efforts to end the war.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The talks are the first direct negotiations since February and could set the terms for ending the war.
- European disunity risks undermining the continent's influence in shaping a settlement that directly affects its security.
- Trump's signalling on territorial concessions represents a major shift in US policy, forcing Europe to scramble for a seat at the table.
Background
The US-mediated Abu Dhabi peace talks, set for 10–11 November, bring together Ukraine, Russia, and the United States to negotiate an end to Russia's war. European leaders have long insisted on participation, and the EU's confirmation of a joint team alongside the E3 nations represents a breakthrough for those demanding a formal role, even as internal disputes over a single envoy persist.
Key Perspectives
Ursula von der Leyen: Confirmed the EU team and backed a Black Sea ceasefire.
Giorgia Meloni: Called for a special envoy, criticising the fragmented approach.
Radosław Sikorski: Warned against Western Europe overriding Eastern interests.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Supported European participation but rejected pre-ceasefire security debates.
Norway's Prime Minister: Warned that Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace, based on a recent phone call.
What to Watch
- Whether the EU delegation directly engages the Russian side in Abu Dhabi.
- The outcome of the Dublin leaders' summit on 13 November.
- Any indication from Trump or Kushner on the shape of a final deal.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 3 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe EU has confirmed a joint team for the Abu Dhabi talks, amid questions about European representation.Euronews: “A joint EU team will be present at the peace talks in Abu Dhabi, together with France, Germany and the UK.”
- SupportedThe EU will send a joint team of senior officials to US-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi.Euronews: “The European Commission and the European Council will send a joint team of senior officials to the round of trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi that the United States will host between Ukraine and Russia.”
- Partly supportedVon der Leyen said the EU would be present alongside its partners and reiterated support for a ceasefire covering food and energy infrastructure.Euronews: ““The EU will be present alongside our partners,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday morning after speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “Freedom of navigation in the Black Sea must be restored and preserved. I reiterated my support for his (Zelenskyy's) call for a ceasefire covering food and energy infrastructure.””
- SupportedThe EU team will be led by Bjoern Seibert and Anna-Maria Boura.Euronews: “The EU team will be led by Bjoern Seibert, von der Leyen's chief of cabinet, and Anna-Maria Boura, chief foreign policy advisor to European Council President António Costa.”
- SupportedOfficials from France, Germany, the UK, NATO and the EU will be represented at the talks.Kyiv Independent: “Europe will be represented by officials from Germany, France, the U.K., NATO, and the EU at the Nov. 10 peace talks with Russia, a senior EU diplomat has confirmed to the Kyiv Independent.”
- SupportedThe talks are scheduled for 10–11 November.Euronews: “The negotiations will unfold over two days: 10 and 11 November.”
- SupportedThe Abu Dhabi talks will resume trilateral peace negotiations after a pause since February.Euronews: “The Abu Dhabi talks will mark the resumption of trilateral peace negotiations since February, when the war on Iran abruptly shifted Washington’s focus.”
- SupportedTrump indicated a major deal was in the making, suggesting a settlement could leave Ukraine with altered borders.DW English: “US President Donald Trump, in the run-up to the Abu Dhabi talks, said a "very big" deal was in the making, suggesting Ukraine could emerge from a settlement with altered borders.”
- SupportedMeloni sent Costa a letter complaining about disarray in diplomatic formats and demanding a special European envoy.Euronews: “The confirmation of the EU team comes after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent a scathing letter to Costa complaining about the "disarray" in diplomatic formats and demanding the appointment of a special European envoy.”
- SupportedCosta agreed to put EU representation on the agenda of the informal EU leaders' summit in Dublin on Friday.Euronews: “European Council President António Costa has agreed to put EU representation in the peace talks on the agenda of the informal EU leaders’ meeting in Dublin on Friday.”
- SupportedSikorski warned that Eastern European interests should be considered and said, “The last thing we want is Western Europe dealing with Russia, over the heads of the East Europeans.”Euronews: “Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski agreed with Meloni and warned that Eastern European's interests should be considered. "The last thing we want is Western Europe dealing with Russia, over the heads of the East Europeans," Sikorski said from Warsaw.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said he spoke with Modi on November 9 about diplomatic developments and asked what steps India could take to help end the war.Kyiv Independent: “President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 9 he held a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the latest diplomatic developments”