--- title: "Who Will Represent Europe at the Abu Dhabi Talks: Delegation Composition by Country" description: "At the Abu Dhabi talks on November 10–11, Europe will be represented by advisors from Germany, France, the UK, and Italy, alongside chiefs of staff from NATO, the European Commission, and the European Council. The delegation composition was confirmed by Politico and EU/NATO sources." date: 2026-11-10T00:58:21.357Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/europe-abu-dhabi-delegation-composition-talks tags: [abu-dhabi-talks, ukraine-russia-negotiations, europe, nato, diplomacy] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Who Will Represent Europe at the Abu Dhabi Talks: Delegation Composition by Country ![Delegations of Ukraine, the US, Russia, and European advisors seated around a large table during talks in Abu Dhabi](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/10/evropa-v-abu-dabi-sostav-delegacii-peregovory/evropa-v-abu-dabi-sostav-delegacii-peregovory-1.webp) ## Key Points - The Abu Dhabi talks will take place on November 10–11 in a trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia format. - Europe will be represented at the level of national security advisors and chiefs of staff, not heads of state. - The delegation will include representatives from Germany, France, the UK, Italy, NATO, the European Commission, and the European Council. - European capitals failed to form a unified position on the level of Europe's representation. At the peace negotiations to end the war in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for November 10–11, 2026, Europe will be represented by officials from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy, as well as representatives of NATO and key European Union institutions. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine citing a source in Politico, while European Pravda's own sources in the EU and NATO have simultaneously confirmed the delegation's composition. The trilateral format involving representatives of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, with Ukraine also holding separate coordination meetings with European partners. ### Level of Representation: Advisors, Not Heads of State According to available data, European countries will be represented at the Abu Dhabi talks at the level of national security advisors and chiefs of staff, rather than at the level of heads of state or government. According to sources, European capitals failed to form a unified position on the exact level at which Europe should be represented. This means the delegation will consist of high-ranking diplomats and advisors directly involved in the preparation and coordination of foreign policy initiatives, rather than the countries' top officials. ### Who Will Join National Delegations Germany will be represented at the talks by Günter Sautter, foreign and security policy advisor to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who participates in coordinating European efforts to support Ukraine and in negotiations to end the war. The United Kingdom will be represented by Jonathan Powell, national security advisor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who previously served as an aide to Tony Blair and participated in the Northern Ireland peace process; according to sources, he maintains close contacts with Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff. France will be represented by Emmanuel Bonne, chief diplomatic advisor to President Emmanuel Macron, who handles the preparation of the French leader's key foreign policy initiatives. Italy will be represented by Fabrizio Saggio, diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is brought in to resolve complex diplomatic issues. ### The Role of NATO and European Union Institutions NATO will be represented in Abu Dhabi by Geoffrey van Leeuwen, chief of staff to Alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte, who previously served as trade minister and national security advisor to the Netherlands. The European Commission will be represented by Björn Seibert, head of cabinet for President Ursula von der Leyen, one of her closest associates who participated in previous negotiations with the American side on Ukraine and security guarantees. The European Council will be represented by Anna-Maria Boura, chief foreign policy advisor to President António Costa, responsible for the Council's foreign policy track. ### Context and Chronology The Ukrainian negotiating delegation reportedly departed for the meetings in Abu Dhabi ahead of schedule. The trilateral format of negotiations involving representatives of Ukraine, the US, and Russia is planned for Tuesday and Wednesday, November 10 and 11. In parallel, Ukraine will hold separate coordination meetings with European partners. Thus, the European delegation, assembled at the level of advisors and chiefs of staff, will work in close coordination with the Ukrainian side and American negotiators, ensuring the coordination of positions of the EU, NATO, and individual member states within the framework of efforts to end the war. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Кто будет представлять Европу в Абу-Даби: детально о каждом](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/hto-predstavlyatime-evropu-abu-dabi-detalno-1794270925.html) - Primary source basis: delegation composition by country (Germany, Italy, NATO, UK, EC, EU, France) citing Politico; trilateral format on Tuesday and Wednesday. - [Переговоры в Абу-Даби: "ЕвроПравда" назвала, кто будет представлять Европу и НАТО](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/11/09/8061943/) - Confirms the level of national security advisors and chiefs of staff; explicitly names van Leeuwen (NATO), Seibert (EC), Boura (European Council), Sautter (Germany). - ["ЕвроПравда" узнала, кто будет представлять Европу и НАТО на переговорах в Абу-Даби](https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/rus/news/2026/11/9/7249589/) - Matches in composition and representation levels; dates November 10–11; quote from Alliance official regarding van Leeuwen. - [Представители ЕС и НАТО будут присутствовать на переговорах в Абу-Даби: кто приедет](https://fakty.com.ua/ru/ukraine/20261109-predstavnyky-yes-ta-nato-budut-prysutni-na-peregovorah-v-abu-dabi-hto-pryyide/) - Confirms the presence of EU and NATO representatives and separate Ukraine-European partner coordination meetings on November 10–11. ## FAQ ### When and in what format will the Abu Dhabi talks take place? The talks are scheduled for November 10–11, 2026. The trilateral format involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia is set for Tuesday and Wednesday, while Ukraine will concurrently hold separate coordination meetings with European partners. ### At what level will Europe be represented at the talks? At the level of national security advisors and chiefs of staff — not at the level of heads of state. European capitals failed to reach a consensus on the level of representation. ### Who specifically will be part of the European delegation? Germany — Günter Sautter (adviser to Chancellor Merz), UK — Jonathan Powell (adviser to PM Starmer), France — Emmanuel Bonne (diplomatic adviser to Macron), Italy — Fabrizio Saggio (adviser to PM Meloni), NATO — Geoffrey van Leeuwen (chief of staff to SG Rutte), European Commission — Björn Seibert, European Council — Anna-Maria Boura.