Russia has welcomed a United States proposal to include Moscow in shaping a new European security architecture following the war in Ukraine, a prospect that emerged during trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11, 2026, Le Monde.fr reported.
Vladimir Medinsky, chief of the Russian delegation and adviser to President Vladimir Putin, called the idea central. He said that the entire European security organism is sick and that an abscess simply burst in Ukraine. The talks yielded the prospect of an upcoming prisoner exchange involving about 1,500 individuals from each side.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared on November 13 that there is no need to discuss European security architecture with Moscow because it already exists, RFI reported. Merz asserted in Dublin that Germany’s presence at talks on Ukraine goes without saying.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that Russian calls to discuss security architecture risk diverting attention from the urgent need for a ceasefire, Zonebourse Suisse reported. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs labeled the proposed discussions a trap. Forty European nations meeting in Dublin signed a declaration stating that any issue impacting European security must be decided with European participation.
In parallel to the official talks, a leaked informal document detailed by the German daily Bild outlines strict Russian demands for any new security framework, La Nouvelle Tribune reported. The text asks that Finland exit the Atlantic Alliance and return to non-member status, that NATO refrain from placing military bases in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and that Ukraine renounce future alliance membership.
US negotiator Jared Kushner stated in Moscow on November 12 that he had initiated discussions with European partners regarding the continent’s post-war security arrangements. Prior to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow demanded the withdrawal of NATO forces from countries that joined after 1997, an ultimatum the alliance rejected.
| Actor | Stance on Security Talks | Key Venue / Date |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | Welcomes participation in reshaping European security | Abu Dhabi, November 10-11, 2026 |
| Germany | Rejects need for new security talks with Moscow | Dublin, November 13, 2026 |
| European Union | Prioritizes ceasefire; insists Europe must decide European security | Dublin, November 13, 2026 |
While European leaders agree that the continent must speak with one voice, division remains over who should represent it. Merz said that while high representative Kaja Kallas embodies established institutional forms, the E3 format comprising France, Germany, and the United Kingdom has proven effective, alongside Italy and Poland.
“There will be no discussions on Ukraine without Ukraine, nor discussions on Europe without Europe,” Merz said.
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