Russia rules out European participation in upcoming Ukraine peace talks
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president (L), and Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor, speak to the media during a joint news conference in Berlin, Germany, November 3, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
Russia has ruled out European participation in the upcoming trilateral talks on Ukraine, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, saying the negotiations will follow an agreed format involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States as mediator.
Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the talks would be held in the previously agreed trilateral format, without European countries.
He also reiterated that the principle of indivisible security is fundamental to Russia's position on Ukraine. The talks will cover security issues, including security guarantees, which "can only be mutual," he said.
Ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks, diplomatic activity involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States has intensified.
The White House said on Tuesday that US First Lady Melania Trump would bring representatives of Russia and Ukraine together at the White House on Thursday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Tuesday that teams from the United States, Europe, NATO and Ukraine would meet in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine's reconstruction and security guarantees.
"Tomorrow, our teams will also be in Brussels, and there will be meetings. America, Europe, NATO and Ukraine will discuss recovery packages and security guarantees and will work at the team level," said Zelenskyy.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said on social media on Monday that the meeting would focus on security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe's post-conflict security architecture and support for Ukraine's reconstruction.
Zelenskyy also revealed priorities for Abu Dhabi peace talks.
He said Ukraine's priorities include a ceasefire covering energy facilities and critical infrastructure, the lifting of restrictions on Black Sea shipping to resume grain exports, more frequent prisoner exchanges under an "all-for-all" formula, and preparations for a trilateral meeting at the leaders' level.
A street in Kyiv's historic district is seen during a blackout in Kyiv, Ukraine, November 1, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
Despite the peace talks, attacks on energy infrastructure by both Russia and Ukraine have continued.
Ukraine's national power company said on Tuesday that Russian forces had launched sustained attacks on the country's energy system since the early hours of the day. It reported more than 20 targeted strikes on energy facilities over the previous 24 hours, causing significant damage.
The attacks have forced emergency power cuts in several regions, including the capital, Kyiv.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Tuesday that Russian strikes had damaged an energy hub in the Kyiv region, triggering emergency power outages across the city and surrounding region. Water supplies in the capital had also been disrupted, while electric public transport services were experiencing disruptions.
Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said on Tuesday that its forces had continued drone strikes against Ukrainian logistics centers and vessels allegedly transporting military supplies to Ukrainian forces.
According to the ministry, Russian forces struck a logistics center in Berdychiv, in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region, which it said was used to store and distribute military cargo supplied by Western countries.
The ministry also said Russian forces had struck a dry cargo vessel in the Black Sea, about 24 kilometers south of Odesa, alleging that it was carrying military supplies and dual-use goods to Ukraine.