Europe to join Ukraine peace talks 'in coming weeks' — German chancellor

BERLIN, November 13. /TASS/. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said at an informal EU summit in Dublin that representatives from several European countries, including Germany, would take part in talks on Ukraine for the first time in the coming weeks. "Substantive peace talks are expected in the coming weeks, with Europe represented for the first time," Bild quoted Merz as saying. He noted that the talks will likely include representatives of the European countries that held consultations with US and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi. The chancellor believes it is "perfectly clear" that Germany will take part. Russia, the United States and Ukraine held talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11. Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky led the Russian delegation, and Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov headed Ukraine’s team. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were also at the table when the talks opened, along with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. French officials had indicated that European representatives would be at the table. None were present. European representatives worked with the Ukrainian and US sides on the sidelines of the talks, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov reported. He noted that discussions on whether Russia might meet with the Europeans and what form such a meeting might take would be based on the outcome of the Abu Dhabi talks. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that the Europeans had exposed themselves by holding Coalition of the Willing exercises to rehearse the deployment of foreign military contingents to Ukraine just before the Abu Dhabi talks. She stressed that while the Europeans talk about peace, negotiations and their place at the negotiating table, they are doing exactly the opposite by sustaining, funding and arming the terrorist Kiev regime.