Kremlin Rejects European Role in Upcoming Abu Dhabi Talks

Nov. 9, 2026 Chief Russian negotiator and Kremlin adviser Vladimir Medinsky. Sputnik / Mikhail Metzel / Pool via REUTERS Russia on Monday pushed back against European involvement in upcoming peace talks, insisting that a planned meeting in Abu Dhabi this week with Ukrainian and U.S. representatives will exclude officials from the European Union. “As for the presence of Europeans, you know that the Americans have their own channels of communication with the Europeans, as do the Ukrainians,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked whether Europe had secured a spot at the negotiation table. American and Ukrainian negotiators are “in all likelihood constructing their own coordination mechanism” with European representatives, Peskov added. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier on Monday that the “EU will be present alongside our partners” at the upcoming peace talks, which take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. She did not provide further details. A European official told AFP that national security representatives from the EU, NATO, as well as France, Germany and the U.K. plan to be in the UAE capital during the negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to confirm European involvement in the talks by saying he held a call with von der Leyen on Monday, during which they “coordinated our positions regarding the meeting in Abu Dhabi.” “We are doing everything to ensure the trilateral format delivers results,” Zelensky wrote in a post on X. Ukraine’s European allies have voiced growing concerns that the Trump administration might try to negotiate over their heads by working directly with Russia on a post-war security arrangement. In Abu Dhabi, Kremlin adviser Vladimir Medinsky, an arch-conservative who previously served as Russia’s culture minister, will once again serve as the chief negotiator of the Russian delegation. Military and intelligence officials, as well as Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, will also participate. AFP contributed reporting. Read more about: Peace Talks , Europe Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Kremlin Accuses Europe of Struggling to Decide Who Will Represent It in Future Security Talks Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said messaging from officials in Brussels suggests that Europe is still unwilling to engage with Russia in serious discussions... 2 Min read Europe Should Be Included in Ukraine Peace Discussions, Kremlin Aide Says "We need to talk to the whole of Europe, which fully supports Kyiv," Yury Ushakov told state television. 2 Min read EU Parliament Website Attacked After MEPs Slam Russian 'Terrorism' The European Parliament website was hit by a cyberattack claimed by pro-Russian hackers on Wednesday, shortly after lawmakers approved a resolution calling... Russian Exports to EU Up Amid Higher Oil Prices Russia’s oil and fuel revenues increased despite the total volume of oil exports decreasing since invading Ukraine.