The key facts

  • Merz called the signals from Abu Dhabi positive and spoke of a chance for genuine peace in Europe
  • Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow after the talks in Abu Dhabi for a meeting with Putin
  • Merz demands that Ukraine, the Europeans and the US be at the table; the question of EU representation will be settled behind closed doors

Merz on the talks in Abu Dhabi

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday gave a positive assessment of the signals from the Ukraine talks held in Abu Dhabi. 'I hear some positive signals from the discussions that took place in Abu Dhabi over the last two days, which gives hope that we, including together with the Americans, have a chance to achieve a genuine peace order in Europe,' he told journalists in Dublin ahead of the European Political Community summit.

Visit of US envoys to Moscow

The statement came as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, after the talks in Abu Dhabi, arrived in Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Merz expressed hope that Moscow would ultimately agree to a broader format of negotiations.

Demand for a broad format

'Above all, I expect the Russian government, the Russian president, to finally agree to joint discussions. Ukraine must be at the table, the Europeans must be at the table, the Americans must be there,' Merz said. In his words, only then will an opportunity for negotiations arise. He refused to say who might represent the European Union: 'We have established formats within the EU, and we will discuss who can represent the EU, but that is a question that will be settled behind closed doors, not in a public discussion.'