Kremlin says European countries not included in next Ukraine talks

What the report says

The Kremlin said European countries will not be part of the next round of Ukraine peace talks planned for Abu Dhabi, according to comments attributed to Russian foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov and reported by Al Jazeera on October 28, 2026. The report said the planned discussions are expected to involve Russia, Ukraine and the United States, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has argued that Europe should also have a seat at the table.

Al Jazeera reported that Zelenskyy, speaking in the Netherlands, said trilateral talks could take place between November 6 and November 10 in the United Arab Emirates. He said Kyiv wants broader European involvement and stronger pressure on Russia. The article also noted a difference in tone from Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who said European countries would be included, after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

The story came as Ukraine secured new pledges of military and financial support from the Netherlands and Britain. According to the report, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced an extra 500 million euros in military aid for winter needs, while the Dutch government also unveiled a broader 1.2 billion euro package over three years. Separately, Zelenskyy thanked British Prime Minister Andy Burnham for a 10 billion pound support package, including 500 million pounds for air defence needs. The developments underscore how diplomacy and battlefield support are moving in parallel as the war continues.