--- title: "The EU is undecided on who will represent it at the Abu Dhabi talks" description: "Ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks, the EU lacks a unified position on the level of European representation: the E3 insists on a narrow format, while Italy, Poland, and the European Council demand an expanded circle of participants." date: 2026-11-09T09:51:31.910Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/eu-undecided-who-will-represent-abu-dhabi-talks tags: [eu, ukraine, russia, abu-dhabi-talks, e3, peace-negotiations] author: "Alexander Buran, Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # The EU is undecided on who will represent it at the Abu Dhabi talks ![European Commission building in Brussels with flagpoles and flying EU member state flags](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/09/es-ne-mozhet-opredelit-kto-budet-predstavlyat-na-peregovorah-v-abu-dabi/es-ne-mozhet-opredelit-kto-budet-predstavlyat-na-peregovorah-v-abu-dabi-1.webp) ## Key Points - National security advisors from France, Germany, and Britain (the E3 group) will take part in the Abu Dhabi talks, but their participation format is not finalized. - Italy, Poland, and the European Council president demand to expand the circle of European participants beyond the E3. - The first trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the US, and Russia since February will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. - Ukraine will be represented by Rustem Umerov, Kyrylo Budanov, David Arakhamia, Sergiy Kyslytsya, and Vadym Skibitsky. Ahead of the start of a new round of talks to resolve Russia's war against Ukraine, Europe has not developed a unified position on what level the continent should be represented at in Abu Dhabi. According to Politico, the national security advisors of France, Germany, and the UK — the so-called "E3 group" — will take part in the talks this week. Their presence is intended to ensure European representation in contacts between Ukraine and Russia mediated by the US, but the format of participation itself has not been fully settled and is causing disagreements within the European Union. ### The "Starting" Round and the Role of the E3 Group According to a German official, the meeting in Abu Dhabi is of a "starting" nature, after which further rounds are planned. On Thursday, on the sidelines of the European Political Community meeting in Dublin, E3 representatives will brief a wider circle of participants in order, as formulated in Brussels, to "broaden the scope of discussion." Thus, the Dublin summit is seen as a platform to synchronize positions before direct contacts in the UAE. ### Will the Advisors Be in the Negotiating Room When asked whether the national security advisors would be directly inside the negotiating room, the German official replied that "the format will be determined during discussions." At the same time, an EU official speaking on condition of anonymity clarified that the national security advisors will be inside or near the room, but will not take direct part in the negotiations. The difference in wording emphasizes that the final protocol for contacts has not yet been finalized. ### Demand to Expand the Circle of Participants Proponents of broader European country involvement consider the format involving only the "E3 group" insufficient. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, and European Council President António Costa are insisting on expanding the circle of participants. The anxiety of Eastern and Northern European countries is heightened by the fact that, according to US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner, the talks will touch upon a new "European security architecture." "The last thing we want is for Western Europe to negotiate with Russia behind the backs of Eastern Europeans," Sikorski stressed. An EU diplomat added that there can be no discussions regarding Europe or its security without the direct participation of Europe itself. ### France's Position and Uncertainty Over EU Institutions French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France and Europe will be "properly represented" in Abu Dhabi. However, as of Sunday evening, it remained unclear whether representatives of EU institutions would join the talks. It is this uncertainty that creates the main dispute within the Union: whether the narrow E3 framework is sufficient or if institutional representation of the entire European Union is necessary. ### Agenda and Composition of the Ukrainian Delegation Earlier, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff reported that the first trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the US, and Russia since February within the framework of the peace process is scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi. During the contacts, the parties intend to discuss future security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian issues, and further steps towards peace. According to an RBC-Ukraine source, Ukraine will be represented at the meeting by intelligence chief Rustem Umerov, intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov, "Servant of the People" faction leader David Arakhamia, First Deputy Intelligence Chief Sergiy Kyslytsya, and Deputy Intelligence Chief Vadym Skibitsky. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [ЕС не может определиться, кто будет представлять его на переговорах в Абу-Даби, - Politico](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/es-mozhe-viznachitis-hto-predstavlyatime-1794217148.html) - Primary source: quotes from a German official, anonymous EU representative, Barrot, Sikorski, Witkoff; composition of the Ukrainian delegation; dates of November 10–11 and the Dublin round. ## FAQ ### Who from Europe will participate in the Abu Dhabi talks? According to reports, national security advisors of France, Germany, and the UK — the E3 group — will participate. Whether they will be directly inside the negotiating room is being determined during discussions; an EU official said they will be in or near the room, but will not directly participate. ### Why is the format causing disputes within the EU? Italy, Poland, and the European Council president consider participation solely by the E3 insufficient, especially given that the talks will touch upon the "European security architecture." Eastern and Northern European countries fear decisions made "behind the backs" of Eastern Europeans. ### When and with what agenda will the meeting take place? The first trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the US, and Russia since February is scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi. They will discuss security, de-escalation, humanitarian issues, and further steps to peace.