Europe to join Ukraine peace talks 'in coming weeks' — German chancellor

Europe to join Ukraine peace talks 'in coming weeks' — German chancellor Friedrich Merz said the talks will likely include representatives of the European countries that held consultations with US and Ukrainian officials in Abu DhabiGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz© AP Photo/Ebrahim NorooziBERLIN, November 13. /TASS/. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said at an informal EU summit in Dublin that representatives from several European countries, including Germany, would take part in talks on Ukraine for the first time in the coming weeks. "Substantive peace talks are expected in the coming weeks, with Europe represented for the first time," Bild quoted Merz as saying. He noted that the talks will likely include representatives of the European countries that held consultations with US and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi. The chancellor believes it is "perfectly clear" that Germany will take part. Russia, the United States and Ukraine held talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11. Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky led the Russian delegation, and Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov headed Ukraine’s team. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were also at the table when the talks opened, along with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. French officials had indicated that European representatives would be at the table. None were present. European representatives worked with the Ukrainian and US sides on the sidelines of the talks, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov reported. He noted that discussions on whether Russia might meet with the Europeans and what form such a meeting might take would be based on the outcome of the Abu Dhabi talks. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that the Europeans had exposed themselves by holding Coalition of the Willing exercises to rehearse the deployment of foreign military contingents to Ukraine just before the Abu Dhabi talks. She stressed that while the Europeans talk about peace, negotiations and their place at the negotiating table, they are doing exactly the opposite by sustaining, funding and arming the terrorist Kiev regime. TagsUkraineGermanyNATO recon aircraft detected near Kaliningrad Region for third time this weekIt spent five hours flying thereRead moreUS refrains from tougher measures against Iran on request from regional countries — TrumpUS President Donald Trump stressed that if not for that request, he could go furtherRead morePress review: EU rejects security reform, stalls Ukraine peace as Armenia loses CSTO voteTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 13thRead moreBridge damage disrupts transport links across Dnieper in Kiev — lawmakerDamage to the bridges over the Dnieper has repeatedly paralyzed traffic in Kiev since late OctoberRead moreRussia withdraws from European Boxing Championship in Croatia citing lack of national flagThe decision was also prompted by problems concerning the issuance of entry visas to members of the Russian delegationRead moreRussian forces push Ukrainian troops 30 km from state border in Sumy Region — expertAndrey Marochko specified that the Russian military continues to steadily expand the buffer zone in this areaRead moreRussian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brassUnits of Russia's Battlegroup Center liberated the settlement of Shilovka in the DPR and servicemen of the Battlegroup East liberated the settlement of Voskresenka in the Zaporozhye Region through decisive operationsRead moreFormer Ukrainian prime minister calls Kiev’s demand to maintain 800,000-strong army absurdNikolay Azarov noted that Kiev needed financial guarantees from the EU because it was unable to maintain such large armed forces on its ownRead moreEuropean envoy to Ukraine talks must be acceptable to all parties — top Czech diplomatAccording to Petr Macinka, the person selected must command the respect of the West but also be viewed positively by the EastRead moreOver 1,000 foreign mercenaries wanted internationally — Russian investigators284 mercenaries had been convictedRead moreRussia does not expect lifting of sanctions against it in medium term — MFAWestern countries have recently begun to employ a sanctions policy with increasing frequency as they are losing their advantages, their "undisputed leadership," Alexander Trofimov saidRead more