European countries prepare for peace talks
Representatives of Europe, Ukraine, Russia and the United States are due to meet in Abu Dhabi next week to discuss ending the war.
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The United States, Ukraine and Russia are planning fresh talks in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November. European countries already discussed security guarantees, reconstruction and the conditions for a possible agreement in Brussels on Wednesday.
The meeting in Abu Dhabi will be led by the US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. According to the US government, delegations from Ukraine and Russia will take part. The talks are aimed at peace; the precise agenda remains uncertain.
The Kremlin confirmed that Russia will come to Abu Dhabi. According to Reuters, Vladimir Medinsky, an adviser to President Vladimir Putin, will be Russia’s chief negotiator. The confirmation makes the planned talks more concrete than earlier reports of a possible resumption of negotiations.
In Brussels, representatives of the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the European Union and NATO discussed the consequences of a possible end to the war. The World Bank was also present. According to the European Commission, the talks focused on scenarios for Ukraine’s economic development and reconstruction.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, according to the Associated Press, that European countries also want to discuss what concessions Russia should make in an agreement. She warned that earlier talks, in her view, had mainly focused on what Ukraine would have to give up. According to AP, the meeting in Brussels was intended to prepare for the new US round of negotiations.
A breakthrough is not certain. According to NOS, Russia and Ukraine remain far apart over the conditions of a peace agreement. At the same time, the attacks continue. The European preparations are taking place against the backdrop of new Russian attacks. It has not been confirmed whether President Donald Trump is applying continuous pressure on Kyiv to end the war.
The role European countries will play in security guarantees and reconstruction could also have consequences for the Netherlands. An agreement between Washington, Kyiv and Moscow would affect European security and support for Ukraine, but the content of a possible agreement remains uncertain.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The United States has announced fresh talks between Ukraine and Russia for 10 and 11 November in Abu Dhabi.
- European countries, the EU, NATO and the World Bank held consultations in Brussels on Wednesday about security and reconstruction.
- Russia and Ukraine have not yet reached an agreement on the conditions for peace.
- The war and Russian attacks are continuing.
Left
Arguments A lasting peace must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and security; European countries should therefore retain influence over security guarantees and reconstruction.
Values The international rule of law, the protection of civilians and solidarity with an attacked country.
Consequences An agreement without firm guarantees could, in this view, become a temporary pause that makes new attacks more likely.
Centre
Arguments Negotiations are needed to reduce the violence, but Europe must remain involved and make agreements verifiable.
Values Diplomacy, institutional involvement and feasibility.
Consequences A step-by-step process with security arrangements and reconstruction could be more realistic than immediately pursuing an all-encompassing peace treaty.
Right
Arguments The talks should primarily lead to an end to the war quickly; Europe should prevent additional conditions from blocking the negotiations.
Values Security, national responsibility and limiting long-term military and financial commitments.
Consequences A swift agreement could save lives and resources, but concessions to Russia could, in this view, also cause future instability.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is confirmed by NOS, Reuters and the Associated Press. The text clearly distinguishes between announced talks, European preparations and the still uncertain outcome.
- confirmed The United States, Ukraine and Russia are planning talks in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November 2026. — NOS and Reuters report these dates and this location. source
- confirmed Vladimir Medinsky will be the chief Russian negotiator. — Reuters reports this, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. source
- confirmed Representatives of the US, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the EU, NATO and the World Bank discussed reconstruction in Brussels on Wednesday. — The Associated Press describes the meeting and the reconstruction scenarios discussed. source
- confirmed Russia and Ukraine remain far apart over the conditions of a peace agreement. — NOS describes the major differences without stating that negotiations are impossible. source
- confirmed The European preparations are taking place while Russian attacks continue. — The Associated Press reports new attacks and the Brussels meeting on the same day. source
Editor's note
It is certain that talks for 10 and 11 November in Abu Dhabi have been announced and that European countries held consultations in Brussels on Wednesday. The participants representing Ukraine and the content or feasibility of a possible agreement remain uncertain.Sources
- VS kondigt overleg Oekraïne-Rusland aan in Abu Dhabi — NOS
- Russian attacks cause Kyiv power outages as death reaches 40 in a stricken village — Associated Press
- Kremlin confirms trilateral Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi next week — Reuters via Investing.com
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „oekraïne rusland”
- NU.nl — „oekraïne rusland”
- De Telegraaf — „oekraïne rusland”