Finnish President Alexander Stubb has stated that Europe will soon join the peace negotiations between Ukraine, the US, and Russia to end the war. According to him, an expanded technical meeting will take place in the coming days, involving representatives from Kyiv, Washington, Moscow, and European nations. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to CNN. Stubb assessed this as the next stage of the peace process, marking the first time European representatives would participate directly on the same platform as the three main parties to the conflict.
The First Step Toward an Expanded Format
It is important to note that, until now, negotiations to resolve the war have not taken place with all four sides participating simultaneously. This is precisely why, according to the Finnish president, involving Europe in the future peace process is essential. Stubb explained that European countries now seek to join the talks directly, as the results will have a significant impact on the security of the entire continent. Thus, the expanded technical meeting is viewed as a transition from bilateral and trilateral contacts to a more comprehensive format where European interests will be represented directly.
Assessment of Abu Dhabi Contacts
The Finnish leader spoke positively about the recent diplomatic contacts. Specifically, he believes the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, involving Ukrainian, American, and Russian delegations, were an important step toward resuming dialogue between the parties, which had previously been at risk of collapse. Among the possible practical outcomes of the talks, Stubb mentioned a large-scale prisoner swap, indicating that the participants are considering specific humanitarian and practical steps as part of a broader agreement.
Europe Searches for Its Representative
In parallel with Stubb's statements, a common position on negotiations is forming in Europe. Presidents Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic and Alexander Stubb of Finland held a phone call to discuss peace talks on the situation in Ukraine, including contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Finnish and Norwegian leaders. The parties also touched upon the prospect of developing a common European position on potential negotiations, which should result in strong security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe. According to media reports, the EU is concerned about its status at the talks and is looking for a representative capable of expressing the bloc's interests; potential candidates include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the presidents of Finland and the Czech Republic, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
A New Round: Norway and a Meeting with Putin
Against the backdrop of these statements, a new round of contacts is being prepared. According to Reuters, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Norway this week for talks on ending the war, and will then proceed to Russia for a meeting with Vladimir Putin. Sources indicate that the meetings in Oslo are expected to include Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, representatives of the E4 format (UK, France, Germany, Poland), as well as the EU and NATO. Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the US President, is reportedly ill and will participate remotely. Sources emphasized that the schedule is preliminary and subject to change.
Moscow's Position and Analytical Context
On November 12, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff made a statement about the approach of peace following the talks in Abu Dhabi, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on who might influence Vladimir Putin after the recent peace negotiations. Meanwhile, analysts, including the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), point out that Moscow is using the negotiation process to promote its own interests and does not intend to make significant compromises. This means that Europe's inclusion in the format will not only expand the number of participants but also serve as an additional factor influencing the dynamics and content of future agreements.
