Jared Kushner, a U.S. envoy, and Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian delegation, took part in the initial round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
“European security must not be discussed without Europe,” representatives said.
The negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States aim to end the war in Ukraine. The Trump administration wants to secure a new Europe-Russia security architecture as part of an agreement. Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff asked the Russian side to draft a proposal identifying “symmetrical steps” the Kremlin is willing to take to reassure Europe that Russia will not initiate future attacks.
European officials are suspicious of the administration’s approach. Delegations from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the European Union, and NATO gathered in the UAE to coordinate their position. They asserted that European security requires European involvement.
Grateful to @jnbarrot for keeping the restoration of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine high on the G7 agenda. Thank you, @SecRubio, @Ed_Miliband, @AussenMinDE, @moteging, @Antonio_Tajani, @AnitaAnandMP and @kajakallas, for today's substantive discussion. I… pic.twitter.com/SRj4RvIAv6
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas cited the 1994 Budapest Memorandum during the G7 foreign ministers summit at the Quai d’Orsay in Paris on November 9. This agreement, where Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. pledged to uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity, remains the priority.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned that Western Europe must not negotiate with Russia while ignoring Eastern Europeans. Kallas said she agreed with Prime Minister Meloni that “we must not speak with different voices.” She warned the EU would not implement any deal negotiated without its participation. “Any agreement that we are not party of, we are not going to implement either,” Kallas said on November 6.
These are crucial weeks for Ukraine. It was good to meet Foreign Minister @andrii_sybiha at the G7 in Paris. However peace talks unfold, Europe will have Ukraine’s back. Sanctions on Moscow stay in place and will be strengthened. We should not fall for Russian narratives about… pic.twitter.com/PJ0ms3TLWV
Vladimir Medinsky led the Russian delegation to the November 10–11 talks, which included military and diplomatic figures. Negotiators from Moscow said the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin launched the invasion because the previous U.S. administration did not reply to a 2021 letter regarding his security concerns.
Kushner and Witkoff said the world has changed since 2021. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected the European proposal that a ceasefire should precede security talks.
European officials view Russia’s focus on a new security architecture as a distraction from ending hostilities. German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said in Berlin that the war must end before any discussions about the transatlantic security order occur. A joint declaration from the U.S., Ukraine, and European representatives supports this position. It stipulates that discussions regarding Europe’s security architecture should only occur after the conflict in Ukraine concludes.
The EU and its member states have provided about 231.5 billion euros ($258.2 billion) in support of Ukraine since 2022. They also arranged 90 billion euros ($100.3 billion) in loans for 2026-27. Kallas vowed to maintain pressure on Moscow through the EU’s 22nd sanctions package and potential visa bans for former combatants.
Our team reported on the results of the meetings in Abu Dhabi with the American and Russian sides, as well as the coordination with European partners present in the Emirates. First, there is an important humanitarian arrangement regarding preparations for a new exchange. Second,… pic.twitter.com/N1ql7Yn2Z6
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged concerns that the U.S. might reach a deal with Russia while leaving Europe out. He said representatives from five EU countries were present in Abu Dhabi for separate consultations. The U.S. wants to eventually expand the trilateral talks to include European representatives directly.
The situation is complex. As the talks in Abu Dhabi proceed, the EU insists that any peace must include credible security guarantees for Ukraine. “Russia must be held accountable for war crimes,” Kallas said.
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