Russia rejects European role in Ukraine talks as coalition drill begins

Russia says European countries have no place at the negotiating table for Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated. She made the comments as military exercises by the “Coalition of the Willing” were scheduled to begin just before trilateral talks between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine resume in Abu Dhabi.

Zakharova described the timing as symbolic and said it confirms that Europeans do not belong at the negotiation table. She added that the West remains reluctant to take Russia’s legitimate security concerns into account and continues to fuel the spiral of escalation.

“The Russian Armed Forces regard any Ukrainian military formations as legitimate targets, with all the risks and consequences that entails.”

The Russian spokeswoman said London and Paris hope that deploying multinational troops in Ukraine will allow them to maintain a supporting position for continuing the confrontation with Russia and attempt to provoke a military defeat of Russia.

Russia considers any foreign military contingents deployed in Ukraine absolutely unacceptable, whether under the “Coalition of the Willing” or any other formation. Zakharova said this would amount to military intervention and the deliberate creation of additional threats to Russia’s security.

The Russian Armed Forces regard any Ukrainian military formations as legitimate targets, with all the risks and consequences that entails. Zakharova warned that responsibility for escalating the conflict would fall entirely on those who continue to carry out futile military actions against Russia in an attempt to provoke the country.

Around 2,800 soldiers from eleven countries are taking part in the first military exercise of the “Coalition of the Willing,” named “Coalicja 2026.” The drill is set to begin during the day and run until November 22 in Poland, the airspace over Romania, and the western Black Sea.

The exercise aims to test how a lasting peace could be secured after the end of the war in Ukraine, with participation from Germany’s armed forces.