Russia bombards Ukraine power grid before Abu Dhabi talks; Merz urges Moscow to engage

The European Commission is set to host talks on Ukraine in Brussels on November 4, gathering representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, NATO, and various European nations to discuss strategies for ending Russia's war. The meeting aims to align positions before upcoming trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S., scheduled for Abu Dhabi.

The European Commission will convene representatives from Ukraine, the U.S., France, Germany, the U.K., NATO, and the World Bank in Brussels. This gathering builds upon previous discussions in Miami and will delve into the proposed "prosperity plan" for Ukraine and potential security assurances. NATO has also announced that its representatives will join discussions with officials from France, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S. later in the week.

The talks are anticipated to cover a technical level, as President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated. The diplomatic push in Washington seeks to reunite Ukrainian and Russian delegates for another round of peace negotiations. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that the next trilateral talks between Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington are scheduled for November 10.

Originally slated for October following visits by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Ukraine and Russia, the talks were halted when Russia declined to participate, citing Kyiv's airstrikes on September 20. The forthcoming talks come as the U.S. intensifies efforts to reignite negotiations. Russia has consistently rejected Western-backed calls for a full and unconditional ceasefire while persistently advocating for Ukraine to relinquish control of the Donbas region.