Ukraine-Russia Talks: Kyiv seeks European role despite exclusion

Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine are moving toward a formal meeting between technical teams from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the format of these discussions during a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian president explained that the primary objective is to advance the negotiation process, regardless of the specific structure. He noted that Kyiv is utilizing every available opportunity to move toward peace. This approach comes as preparations continue for a trilateral gathering that excludes direct European representation in the initial technical sessions.

Zelenskyy did not definitively confirm that European representatives would be absent from the talks. However, he emphasized that the current trilateral format is not a new development. He described the arrangement as a previously blocked mechanism that has now been unblocked. He stated, "It has been accepted that this is a trilateral meeting, but this is not something new. It is not a new trilateral meeting format. It was blocked before, and now it has been unblocked."

Despite the current format, the president stressed the necessity of European involvement in subsequent stages. He argued that future security guarantees for Ukraine cannot be finalized without European participation. "Ultimately, we are talking about security guarantees for Ukraine. I do not see this happening without Europe. After all, we are talking about reconstruction," he said. He added that Russia does not support Europe's presence at the talks, but Kyiv hopes to find a way to include them.

When asked why Ukraine accepts a format that does not involve Europeans, Zelenskyy said the priority is to seize the opportunity to meet. "Of course, I think it is important for Europe to be there. But if the Americans say no, [and that] this time we will only have a trilateral meeting, we will not ruin this opportunity to meet. Because we need to move this process towards peace in any format," he explained.

The Ukrainian leader also highlighted the need for clarity on who will represent Europe in the negotiations. In the background, Dmitry Ushakov, an aide to the Russian leader, stated that the European side would not participate in the trilateral technical talks. Zelenskyy expects the meeting between the technical teams to take place between November 6 and November 10. He indicated that the decision to hold the meeting in early November rests with the United States.

Zelenskyy noted that recent conversations between European leaders and Vladimir Putin suggest Russia is serious about holding a meeting of negotiating teams in Abu Dhabi. The outcome of the upcoming trilateral session will determine the next steps in the diplomatic process. The technical groups from the three nations will focus on the mechanics of ending the conflict, with Europe expected to play a role in later stages regarding security and reconstruction.