Russia-Ukraine Talks Reveal US-Europe Differences Over Russia
Two days of US-Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi exposed differences between the United States and Europe over a postwar security framework. Russia welcomed a US proposal to begin discussions, while Ukraine and its European allies feared Russia could shape Europe's security order. European officials were excluded from the trilateral talks.
Two days of talks among the United States, Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi revealed differences between the United States and Europe over how to approach Russia in the negotiations, The Washington Post reported on November 11. The differences center on whether to begin discussions on a postwar security framework and what role Russia should play in European security affairs.
Russia welcomed a proposal from envoys of US President Donald Trump to begin discussions on a postwar security framework. This has long been a demand of the Kremlin. Ukraine and its European allies, meanwhile, fear such discussions could lead to a European security order shaped by the Kremlin.
US envoy Jared Kushner proposed using the now-defunct NATO-Russia Council as a model to give Russia a voice in security consultations across Europe. Kushner is Trump's son-in-law. Giving Russia a role in European security consultations has also long been a goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin, but some European officials have expressed concern about the approach.
European officials sent a team of senior officials to Abu Dhabi, but the team was unable to participate in the trilateral US-Russia-Ukraine talks. Russian officials have long opposed the participation of European representatives in the negotiations, arguing that Europe strongly supports Kyiv. Europe's concerns and its exclusion from the talks further highlight differences over participation in the negotiations and security arrangements.
Source: VietVance
