President Donald Trump announced plans for a “very important” agreement with Russia that would extend beyond Ukraine to encompass “all of Europe,” sparking immediate skepticism among European leaders who fear being sidelined in negotiations over their own security. The proposal, which envisions a new European security framework including Moscow, comes as U.S.-mediated talks between Kyiv and Moscow are scheduled for November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi, according to Politico.
Trump’s Ambitious Plan
On Thursday, November 5, Trump described the potential accord as “a great and magnificent deal” that “everyone will be happy with,” according to CNN. His son-in-law and special envoy, Jared Kushner, later clarified on X that Washington is working on an expanded European security architecture “designed to address the concerns of all parties.” However, Kushner’s message notably omitted any reference to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a detail that deepened European unease.
According to Politico, Dmitriev acted as a high-level Russian emissary in the meeting.
European Pushback
European leaders were swift to reject the idea of a security agreement negotiated without their direct involvement. “We already have a European security architecture; NATO and the European Union each play their role,” Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, said Friday in Warsaw. She added, “The problem remains that Russia continues to violate the treaties that underpin it… Putin does not have a veto over European security.”
The Polish foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, went further, calling any agreement on the future of Ukraine and Europe reached without European involvement “not only imprudent, but simply impossible.” His comments were reported by Euronews.
Ukraine also expressed strong reservations. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that the priority should be protecting Europe from Russia, not negotiating new spheres of influence with Moscow. “We must talk about how to protect ourselves from Russia, and not discuss with the Russians spheres of influence in Europe,” he said after meeting with Kallas in Warsaw.
European Officials See Proposal Echoing Russian Demands
European officials see Trump’s proposal as echoing Russian demands from late 2021, just weeks before the full-scale invasion. At that time, the Kremlin sought a restructuring of the European security order, including the withdrawal of NATO forces from countries that joined the alliance after 1997. NATO rejected those demands on the principle that every sovereign state has the right to choose its alliances, a point reiterated by Kallas.
This historical context has fueled deep mistrust. A week earlier, reports surfaced that Trump had reached a deal with Putin on importing Russian diesel, a move European foreign ministers deemed “alarming.” While Europe maintained its sanctions against Moscow, the U.S. reportedly exempted Russia from new sanctions, fueling perceptions of a transatlantic rift.
The skepticism is compounded by the fact that NATO allies claim they were not consulted beforehand. According to diplomats who spoke with Politico, the U.S. did not inform allies of the plans in advance, and many remain reserved about the initiative.
Abu Dhabi Talks as a Crucible
The upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi represent the first major test of this new diplomatic push. The Ukrainian media outlet Liga reported that the discussions, involving American, Ukrainian, and Russian representatives, are the first such talks since the winter. Earlier this week, U.S. officials held two days of meetings in Brussels with NATO, the EU, and key European powers.
Kushner, who participated virtually, promised to consult closely with Europeans during the Abu Dhabi talks. Washington has indicated that if progress is made, a larger multilateral format involving direct European participation could follow. However, Moscow has previously opposed any European presence in such negotiations.
Stefan Kornelius, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, noted that a “new sense of urgency has emerged” around the negotiations following the U.S. midterm elections. The issue is expected to be a key topic at an informal EU leaders’ meeting in Dublin next week.
European Resolve to Shape the Future
At a meeting of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries on Friday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda delivered a clear message: “Europe must have its place at the negotiating table on peace in Ukraine and on the future European security architecture.”
European leaders are determined to remain central to any discussions about their security, refusing to let a U.S.-Russian deal determine their future. As one diplomat put it, Europe intends to stay “at the center of the game, rather than letting Trump decide in their place.”
Abu Dhabi Talks Will Shape Next Steps
The immediate focus is on the Abu Dhabi talks. Whether they yield any concrete proposals and whether those proposals include a meaningful role for European nations will determine the next steps. European leaders have signaled they will not accept an agreement that is crafted without them, setting the stage for a potential diplomatic standoff with Washington.
For now, the contours of Trump’s “grand accord” remain vague, but the resolve of European leaders to shape their own security future is clear.
