EU joins Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi this week

The European Union will participate in Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi this week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Von der Leyen stated the EU will be present alongside partners at the negotiations, and she looks forward to meeting Zelensky in Dublin later this week to discuss next steps toward peace. She also announced a visit to Romania and Bulgaria, citing escalating Black Sea security threats and attacks causing civilian casualties. The EU aims to present a unified position at the talks, including that discussions on European security frameworks should occur after the war ends. The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is described as dramatic, with Russia deliberately targeting winter infrastructure.