Ukraine Seeks 10 Years of Western Funds for 800,000-Strong Army

Kyiv is pushing Western partners to underwrite an 800,000-strong postwar army for at least a decade, according to a senior Ukrainian source who spoke to AFP as U.S.-mediated talks with Russia continued in Abu Dhabi.

The figure was not set out in a public official document, and AFP did not name the source. The agency said Ukraine wanted the money to sustain a force “able to defend any future Russian attack.”

Talks in Abu Dhabi

Representatives from Kyiv and Moscow began negotiations in the Emirati capital on Tuesday, Nov. 10, with a second day set for Wednesday. AFP said it was the first such meeting since February, when talks stalled and Washington was sidetracked by the Iran war.

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are mediating. The opening session lasted several hours, and Washington said it was also working on a “new” security framework that includes Europe.

A New Security Framework

Kushner told delegates the United States had “narrowed the gaps” between the sides, without giving details. He said Washington hoped to “create a new framework” of security between Ukraine, Russia and Europe that would secure “decades, if not centuries, of peace.”

A Russian delegation source told AFP that ending the war was “merely one item on the agenda,” and that Moscow’s main objective was reviewing security “for the entire continent.” Russia included diplomat Sergei Ryabkov, who had earlier demanded a NATO pullback.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking in Copenhagen, called the talks “constructive and quite substantive.” He said humanitarian issues and security guarantees were among the topics, and, asked about the U.S. mediators, added: “I see changes. I’m very happy with what I hear.”

Guarantees and Europe

Kyiv’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, met the U.S. envoys and European, EU and NATO officials before the talks. He said Ukraine’s priorities remained a ceasefire and security guarantees. “Our people are waiting to end this war,” he said.

Zelensky has previously tied security guarantees to keeping a large army. Europe has also pressed for a seat at the Abu Dhabi talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Paris, called the discussions “very productive” and said Europeans should eventually be included “because they are part of solving this problem.” Zelensky said it was “time” for Europe to choose a representative. The EU has said security arrangements can only be discussed after a ceasefire.

Land and the Front

Before the talks, President Donald Trump hinted that Kyiv might have to give up land, saying, “They’re going to end up with a little bit different shape.” Moscow still demands that Ukraine surrender the parts of Donetsk it controls.

The governor of Russia’s Leningrad region, Aleksandr Drozdenko, said a Ukrainian drone attack had sparked a fire at the Ust-Luga oil-export port, and that Russian air defenses had downed 146 drones.