EU joins Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Abu Dhabi with France, Germany, UK

The European Commission and European Council will send a joint team of senior officials to US-hosted trilateral peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed Monday. The EU team, led by von der Leyen's chief of cabinet Bjoern Seibert and foreign policy advisor Anna-Maria Boura, will join France, Germany, and the UK. Von der Leyen reiterated support for a ceasefire covering food and energy infrastructure and stressed restoring Black Sea freedom of navigation. Direct EU engagement with the Russian delegation remains possible but unconfirmed. The talks resume trilateral negotiations paused since February, amid European criticism of US envoy Jared Kushner's security framework proposals and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's call for a special European envoy.