Ukraine's delegation heads to Abu Dhabi for trilateral talks: Foreign intelligence chief shares details
Photo: Rustem Umerov (Getty Images)
Ukraine's negotiating delegation has departed for meetings in Abu Dhabi. Trilateral talks involving representatives from Ukraine, the US, and Russia are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, and Politico.
Umerov noted that representatives of European countries would also be in Abu Dhabi on the same days, including members of the E4 group — the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy — as well as delegates from NATO and the European Commission. Ukraine will hold separate meetings with them.
According to the intelligence chief, it is essential for Ukraine to maintain close coordination with all key partners, ensure alignment of positions, and establish a shared understanding of the next steps.
"As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has directed, we are doing everything possible to ensure that Europe is part of the diplomatic process," Umerov stressed.
He emphasized that Ukraine's main goal in the negotiations remains achieving peace, securing security guarantees, and creating opportunities for the country's postwar recovery.
Umerov also highlighted the active role and preparatory work of US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
European participation in the talks
Politico reports that Europe will send representatives to the peace talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. In addition, according to diplomats, national security advisers from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will join the process.
The European team will include several senior officials. These include Björn Seibert, chief of staff to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Anna-Maria Boura, chief foreign policy adviser to European Council President António Costa.
Meanwhile, an EU official told Politico on condition of anonymity that, due to the sensitive nature of the preparations, European representatives themselves would not be present in the negotiation room.
As a reminder, European countries have yet to reach a common position on the level at which Europe should be represented at the Abu Dhabi talks.
A source told RBC-Ukraine that NATO will be represented at the Abu Dhabi negotiations by Geoffrey van Leeuwen, Director of the Alliance's Secretary General's Office.
