EU sends joint team to Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Abu Dhabi

The EU will send a joint delegation of senior officials to US-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, alongside France, Germany, and the UK. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the participation Monday after speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The EU delegation will be led by Björn Seibert and Anna-Maria Boura, with both institutions expressing readiness for direct dialogue with the Russian delegation, though it remains unclear if such a meeting will occur. Von der Leyen reiterated support for a ceasefire covering food and energy infrastructure and stressed the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. The talks mark a resumption of trilateral peace contacts after February, when Washington's attention shifted to the war against Iran. The announcement follows criticism from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over diplomatic "chaos" and a warning from Poland's foreign minister against Western Europe negotiating with Russia over Eastern European heads.