Ukraine diplomacy: Kremlin bars Europe from next talks

Diplomatic friction emerged on Tuesday as top officials in Moscow and Helsinki provided conflicting accounts of the upcoming Ukraine peace negotiations.

Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign policy aide, stated that European nations will not participate in the next round of talks. Ushakov spoke to Interfax news agency after a 90-minute telephone conference on Tuesday involving Russian President Vladimir Putin, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Ushakov said the possibility of European involvement was not discussed during that call. Alexander Stubb offered a different account at the Nordic Council in Helsinki, asserting that European countries would be involved in the November meetings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the schedule for the trilateral talks with Russia and the United States on Wednesday. Speaking from the Netherlands, Zelenskyy said the session will run from November 6 to November 10 in the United Arab Emirates. He stated that Kyiv wants Europe to participate, citing the need for unity and stronger pressure on Russia.

Zelenskyy met with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who pledged an additional 500 million euros, or $556 million, for military support this winter. The funds are designated for purchasing drones and other materials to strengthen Ukrainian defenses. Zelenskyy is also scheduled to meet Dutch King Willem-Alexander on Wednesday.

The Dutch government announced a new support package worth 1.2 billion euros, or $1.33 billion, over the next three years. The government also committed 40 million euros, or $44.5 million, to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund by the end of the year. Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, the Dutch minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, visited Kyiv on Wednesday. He said, "Support for recovery and reconstruction can’t wait for a ceasefire. Ukraine needs our help right now, military support but also social and economic assistance."

In a separate development, Zelenskyy thanked British Prime Minister Andy Burnham for a new support package worth 10 billion pounds, or $13.3 billion. The announcement followed a phone call on Wednesday morning. Zelenskyy wrote on social media, "A truly strong and very timely step, coming right as Russia needs to see and feel that Ukraine will not be left alone to deal with the problems Russia is so eager to escalate."

Downing Street stated that the British aid package includes 500 million pounds, or $665 million, in additional military support from the Ministry of Defence. The funds are intended to fill urgent gaps in Ukraine’s air defenses during the winter.