UK and Netherlands pledge new aid to Ukraine as Kremlin says Europe will not join Abu Dhabi talks

Ukraine secured fresh support from Britain and the Netherlands on Wednesday, as Kyiv and Moscow prepared for US-mediated talks in the United Arab Emirates, Al Jazeera reports, citing Reuters and AP.

New aid

• United Kingdom: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Prime Minister Andy Burnham for a new package worth £10 billion. According to Downing Street, it includes £500 million in additional military support to plug urgent gaps in Ukraine’s air defences this winter.
• Netherlands: After meeting Zelenskyy in The Hague, Prime Minister Rob Jetten pledged an extra €500 million for military support this winter, including drones. The Dutch government also announced a €1.2 billion package over three years and €40 million for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

The talks

Zelenskyy said trilateral talks with Russia and the US will take place on November 6-10 in the UAE and that Kyiv wants Europe involved. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, quoted by Interfax, said European participation was not discussed in Putin’s call with the Finnish and Norwegian leaders and that Europe would not be included. Finland’s president Alexander Stubb gave a different account, saying European countries would be involved.

According to the Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian officials do not expect a major breakthrough in the first round but hope it will restart regular negotiations after a pause of more than eight months.