Russia would allow Europe into peace talks only on its terms to discuss shrinking NATO

Russia is willing to permit European representatives to join peace negotiations, but only if the discussions center on reshaping the security structure in Europe, according to a report by the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War published on November 13. After a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump's emissaries, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, announced that Europe would participate in the upcoming peace talks.

However, Moscow is only accommodating Europe's involvement if it aligns with Russia's aims to reduce the post-Cold War security framework in Europe, according to the ISW. The analysts pointed out that Russia still insists on Europe agreeing to Moscow's original 2021 proposal to reduce the NATO alliance. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on November 13 that talks could only proceed once Russia comprehended the "real intentions" of Europe and its commitment to the peace process.

A Kremlin official, Yuri Ushakov, claimed on November 12 that European delegates should establish the criteria for a new security architecture. Ushakov reiterated Russia's core demands, which include halting NATO's expansion and returning the alliance to its 1997 borders, a stance Moscow took in 2021. "The Kremlin continues to impose conditions on European participation in future peace talks on its terms, amounting to NATO's dismantling, and refuses to allow European nations to assist in resolving the conflict in Ukraine or establishing post-war security assurances for Ukraine," the ISW reported.

On November 13, Politico revealed that European leaders were divided on who should represent Europe in peace talks, forming at least three factions. However, at the Dublin summit, EU leaders ultimately agreed that the EU institutions and five prominent European countries — Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Poland — would collectively speak for Europe in talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

According to various media reports, the Russian delegation at talks in Abu Dhabi, as well as Putin during his November 12 meeting in Moscow with Trump's representatives, reiterated Moscow's longstanding demand for NATO to revert to its 1997 borders, which would entail withdrawing alliance forces from Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states.