Europe to Join Ukraine Peace Effort as Russia Shuns Ceasefire Talks
WHO:
Kyiv Post - European Council President António Costa speaks for EU member-state leaders, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas oversees the Union’s foreign and security policy.
The Washington Post - President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said European officials would join the next round of talks on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Meduza - Russian and Ukrainian representatives took part in the Abu Dhabi talks; the article attributes details about the Russian delegation to sources cited by RBC-Ukraine.
Meduza - U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff planned to raise European security and European participation with Vladimir Putin.
Kyiv Post - Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Europe already had representatives empowered to speak for it, identifying European Council President António Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Kyiv Post - President Volodymyr Zelensky called for European participation as equal negotiating partners. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said European leaders would discuss representation.
Kyiv Post - Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and a France-Germany-Britain format were mentioned as possible alternatives for European representation.
WHAT:
Kyiv Post - Kristen Michal said, “The peace talks should be about peace and how to achieve just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia on Ukraine’s terms.”
Kyiv Post - Kallas said pressure had been placed on Ukraine, “which is not correct, because we have one aggressor and one victim.”
BBC News - Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed European leaders’ involvement in the peace talks and said it made sense because Ukraine hopes to eventually join the EU.
The Washington Post - After meeting Putin in Moscow, Witkoff said European officials would join the next round of Ukraine peace talks; the article reported signs of a looming impasse.
Meduza - On the second day of Abu Dhabi talks, Russia refused to discuss territorial issues, a ceasefire, energy, or Black Sea security, according to sources cited by RBC-Ukraine.
Meduza - The talks shifted to Europe’s future security architecture. The Russian delegation reportedly insisted on returning to proposals it submitted in December 2021.
Meduza - Participants made no official comment on the substance of the second day, saying there was “good momentum” and that the meetings had “brought peace closer.”
Kyiv Post - Zelensky urged European leaders to choose representatives before the end of November and said ending the war without Europe’s participation would be “unfair and, frankly, impossible.”
Kyiv Post - Michal said, “Putin doesn’t get to choose” Europe’s negotiators. He said, “we already have agreed on the persons,” and that Kallas “has the role to represent us in the matters of foreign affairs.”
Kyiv Post - Michal said Europe should be represented by people accountable to Europe, “not by those who Putin likes.” Kallas said, “Putin does not have a veto over European security,” and argued that pressure had fallen on Ukraine rather than Russia.
WHERE:
The Washington Post - Witkoff met Putin in Moscow.
Meduza - The second day of peace talks took place in Abu Dhabi.
Kyiv Post - Michal and Zelensky discussed European representation in Dublin.
WHY:
Kyiv Post - Russia has sought restrictions on NATO’s military presence and enlargement, while Washington has explored a potential new European security framework.
Kyiv Post - European representation was disputed over whether to use existing EU leaders or appoint an envoy more acceptable to Moscow; some governments questioned whether Kallas’s criticism of Putin could hinder negotiations.
Kyiv Post - Ukraine and European countries bordering Russia were concerned that negotiations could expand into security agreements affecting other sovereign states.
HOW:
Meduza - U.S. officials reportedly asked Russia to restate its vision of European security, saying the world had “changed significantly” since 2021; Kushner and Witkoff planned to propose including European-country representatives in the talks.
Kyiv Post - Kushner urged European governments to identify one representative empowered to negotiate for them.
(UPDATED November 13, 2026 03:07 UTC)
European officials are expected to join the next Ukraine peace talks, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said. Ukraine’s Zelensky welcomed their involvement, pressing for Europeans to negotiate as equal partners. Abu Dhabi talks reportedly stalled, with Russia refusing to discuss key issues including territory and ceasefire.
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(UPDATED November 13, 2026 02:03 UTC)
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff says Europeans will join the next Ukraine peace talks. Russia reportedly refused to discuss territory, ceasefires, energy, or Black Sea security. Zelensky insists Europe must participate as an equal negotiating partner.