The United States is trying to put pressure on Russia to allow European countries to participate in the next round of negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Politico writes.
"Donald Trump's emissaries are putting pressure on Russia to allow Europe to join the next round of negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukrainian conflict," the publication said, citing American officials familiar with the discussions.
The American administration proposes to involve European representatives in the discussions immediately after the upcoming meeting in Abu Dhabi. National security advisers from Britain, Germany and France are expected to attend the talks, as well as representatives from Italy, NATO, the European Commission and the European Council. However, they will not participate directly in the negotiations.
As Politico sources point out, Washington is also interested in expanding the direct dialogue between Europe and Russia. American officials positively evaluated the contacts of the leaders of Finland and Norway with Vladimir Putin and believe that European countries should independently discuss security issues with Moscow and convey their positions to it.
Trilateral negotiations between Russia, the United States and Ukraine will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11. The Russian delegation will be headed by the assistant of the Russian president, Vladimir Medinsky, and the Ukrainian delegation will be headed by the head of the foreign intelligence service, Rostam Umarov.