Russia Rules Out EU Role in Abu Dhabi Peace Talks on Ukraine

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that Moscow will not allow representatives of the European Union to take part in the peace negotiations for Ukraine being held in Abu Dhabi.

According to a report by Dnevnik, a Bulgarian news outlet, Ryabkov's statement came as Kyiv has been testing the ground for expanding the format of the talks. The Ukrainian side has reportedly sought to include additional participants beyond the current negotiators, which could potentially involve the EU.

The deputy minister's comments underline Russia's firm position on the composition of the talks. While the exact details of the negotiations in Abu Dhabi remain limited, the EU has expressed interest in being involved in discussions aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. The bloc has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but its direct role in the negotiations has so far been minimal.

For Bulgaria, an EU member state, the news means that the bloc may be sidelined in the immediate peace process. The country's potential role in these talks would therefore be limited, at least for now. The peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi are part of ongoing international efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the war, and the question of who sits at the table remains a key point of contention.