The United States intends to get Russia's consent for the direct participation of European states in the next round of peace negotiations on Ukraine. Washington expects that the current meeting in Abu Dhabi will be the last one held without full European representation.
This was reported by Politico, citing American officials familiar with the preparations for the talks.
According to the publication, representatives of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will raise the issue of expanding the negotiation format during the trilateral meetings of Ukraine, the US and Russia scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi.
"We need Europe at the negotiating table. Therefore, our proposal is to involve the Europeans in the discussion after this trilateral meeting", - said one of the American officials.
According to him, Washington seeks to accelerate the negotiation process and move to a multilateral format already at the next stage. At the same time, the final decision will depend on Moscow's position, which has so far opposed the direct participation of European representatives.
The American side also calls on European leaders to intensify direct contacts with Russia. Washington believes that such talks will allow European states to convey their requirements to Moscow independently, rather than relying solely on American mediation.
Currently, representatives of Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, as well as the European Union and NATO, will be in Abu Dhabi, but will not participate directly in the main trilateral negotiations.
As previously reported "Kurs Ukrainy", the Ukrainian delegation will hold separate consultations with European partners to coordinate positions and further diplomatic steps.
According to Politico, the first day of negotiations in Abu Dhabi will be devoted to security guarantees for Ukraine and possible changes in the European security system. On the second day, the parties plan to move on to territorial issues, including future borders.
American officials emphasize that these two negotiation directions are interconnected and should be coordinated simultaneously. Washington also assures that NATO will remain the basis of Europe's collective defense, although future relations with Russia will require review.
According to Politico's interlocutors, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte actively participates in consultations with the US administration and discussions on possible changes in the European security system.
At the same time, European states still lack a unified position on who exactly should represent them in future negotiations with Russia. This issue is planned to be discussed at an informal summit of European leaders in Dublin later this week.
It is expected that the current round of negotiations in Abu Dhabi will primarily aim to advance the negotiation process, rather than immediately conclude a final agreement on ending the war.
