Edward Marchesi The U.S. government has agreed to mediate the upcoming technical talks between Ukraine and Russia, which will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11. The initiative is part of President Donald Trump's stated goal of ending the war in Ukraine and is being coordinated by envoy Steve Witkoff , who outlined the guidelines for the meeting on X, which will focus on post-conflict security, de-escalation, and humanitarian interventions.
The role of the United States and Trump's expectations
According to Witkoff, the discussions should outline a post-conflict security posture , identify de-escalation mechanisms , and establish a framework for humanitarian activities. In parallel, the United States will organize a series of meetings in Brussels with representatives of France, Germany, Great Britain, the European Union, and NATO, with the aim of ensuring security guarantees for Kiev.
These meetings are seen as a key step in consolidating a common front against Russian aggression.
Frozen Russian assets: the EU debate
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas emphasized that the issue of frozen Russian assets remains a hot topic of debate. At an event at the University of Montreal, she stated that the 27 member states had agreed not to release these assets until Russia paid reparations to Ukraine.
To utilize the assets, it will be necessary to define a solidarity mechanism that distributes the risk among all members, while ensuring full awareness of the potential implications.
Reactions from Moscow and the European Union
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by stressing that a war between Russia and Europe would produce no winners . Moscow also reiterated its rejection of EU participation in the trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi, calling European intervention "not welcome." The European delegation, led by Bjorn Seibert , chief of staff to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , is nevertheless ready to present proposals, but its presence is considered "unwelcome" by Moscow.
In an interview at the Jean Monnet Centre at the University of Montreal, Kallas noted that the split between the United States and Europe seems to please Putin, who is intensifying attacks on Ukrainian civilians and making "extremely demanding" demands. The Estonian leader emphasized that as long as the rift persists, Moscow could gain strategic advantage.
Meanwhile, violence on the ground continues: recent attacks in Dnipro, Chernihiv, and other Ukrainian cities have resulted in numerous civilian casualties. These events are fueling international pressure and further urging the need for a peace agreement, a goal shared by both the United States and the European Union.