Briefing
Innsbruck-based political scientist Gerhard Mangott assessed in an NDRinterview on 10 November 2026 the trilateral talks between Russia, the Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi as potentially detrimental to Ukraine. Mangott said the differences between Moscow's and Kyiv's positions remained profound, and that Russia might use the round of talks to legitimise shifts in the balance of power already achieved and pressure Ukraine into making concessions. The interview was broadcast on NDR Info on 10 November 2026 and is part of ongoing coverage of the negotiations.
At the same time, the of the Federal Government, published on the same day. They show both increased participation in the struck a cautiously positive note: direct contacts between the parties to the conflict were welcome, but it had to be ensured that Europe was not excluded from important decisions. At government press conferences in early November 2026, the Federal Foreign Office stressed that lasting peace could be achieved only with legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine; European involvement in security matters was therefore essential. According to the government, officials in Berlin are working on coordination with other EU partners to strengthen Europe's role in preliminary and subsequent talks.
Other German-language analyses also expressed low expectations of immediate, substantial progress from Abu Dhabi; critics warned that the talks could be mere theatre, without lasting agreements. Observers note that, alongside the format of the negotiations, questions concerning territorial status, the security architecture and monitoring mechanisms would also need to be resolved for an agreement to be acceptable to Ukraine.
The round that began in Abu Dhabi on 10 November 2026 marks a diplomatic effort, but based on the public information available so far, it has produced no binding results. Mangott's warning that the talks could weaken Ukraine is one of several cautious assessments. For German policy, the key point remains that talks with Russia and the United States must not leave Europe out, and that concrete, legally enshrined security guarantees for Ukraine must be agreed.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).