Europe must be involved in the peace process on Ukraine both at the meeting in Abu Dhabi and afterwards. Ukraine is taking the talks in Abu Dhabi seriously.
This was stated by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha during a press conference with Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reports.
“There can be no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, and no decisions about Europe’s security without Europe,” Sybiha stressed.
According to him, Ukraine is taking the meeting in Abu Dhabi seriously. Among the Ukrainian side’s key priorities are security guarantees, de-escalation in the Black Sea, an energy ceasefire, the return of Ukrainian children, and the exchange of prisoners of war.
Sybiha also said that in October Russia lost more than 54,000 troops killed and seriously wounded. He said Ukraine has liberated more territory than Russia has been able to occupy, and that the positions of Ukrainian forces on the front line are the strongest they have been in the past three years.
The minister added that Ukraine will continue long-range strikes on Russian territory.
Separately, the foreign minister outlined the tasks that need to be completed by the end of the year. These include:
- opening two clusters in the negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU;
- effective use of frozen Russian assets;
- additional financial support for Ukraine;
- introducing new sanctions against Russia;
- strengthening air defence and supporting Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of winter.
Sybiha also stressed that Ukraine is not only a recipient of aid, but also a security partner. He said Ukraine’s combat experience, defence industry and technologies could strengthen Europe’s collective defence even before Ukraine joins NATO.
“There will be no more spheres of influence. There will be no second Yalta or Munich. The time has come for European strength and unity,” the minister said.
- Earlier, US President’s special envoy Steven Witkoff wrote on his X page that working-group talks between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United States, would take place in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November.