Zelenskyy Demands European Participation in November Ukraine Negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday, October 27, that European countries must participate in all diplomatic steps related to settling the war, and that no European partner should be excluded from decision-making.

"We expect a three-way format in November — with representatives of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia," Zelenskyy said in his evening address. Zelenskyy emphasized that "Europe must be present and have a voice" in all diplomatic steps and noted that Ukraine has consistently insisted that European partners participate in decisions being made.

According to Moscow's statement, the talks are expected in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November. They are being prepared at the level of negotiating teams, not as a summit of the three countries' leaders.

Zelenskyy's statement followed a rare phone call that Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere held with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. The call was initiated by Finland and Norway in coordination with Ukraine; it was preceded by diplomatic consultations in Oslo on October 20.

According to a joint statement from the Norwegian government, the Scandinavian leaders sought to convey messages to Putin about future talks and the need to end the war. "The conversation was frank and substantive," Stubb said, emphasizing that the outcome of the war will directly affect European security. Stoere pointed to the humanitarian and economic consequences of the war and called for de-escalation.

After their conversation with Putin, Stubb and Stoere briefed Zelenskyy. According to the Ukrainian president's office, the Scandinavian leaders told Putin that Russia must take concrete steps toward de-escalation — primarily reducing strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.