Rubio cites progress on Ukraine and Europe security before Abu Dhabi talks

Rubio points to progress on security arrangements

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday, 8 November, that some progress has been made on the security arrangements that could govern Ukraine and Europe once the war with Russia is over. He spoke before flying to Paris for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers. Rubio said further steps could come in the talks scheduled for the coming days in Abu Dhabi. He described security guarantees as a point that keeps returning in discussions about ending the conflict.

Rubio tied the subject to the president's remarks and said progress had been made on what the postwar architecture could look like.

“there's been some advances made in what that architecture could look like post-conflict”

Asked about the matter, he framed the central question as what the postwar security structure of Ukraine and the wider European continent will look like.

Trump's expectations for a settlement

Trump told CBS's 60 Minutes, in an interview broadcast on Sunday, that he believed the war would end soon. He suggested Ukraine could emerge from a settlement looking somewhat different from its current form.

“I think we're gonna have it done, and I think it's gonna happen and they're gonna end up with a little bit different shape Ukraine”

Asked whether Vladimir Putin was stringing him along, Trump said he did not think so. On Thursday, 5 November, he had promised a very big agreement with Russia over Ukraine, saying it could cover all of Europe. Those remarks unsettled Europeans and Ukrainians, who fear an agreement could take shape without them.

Abu Dhabi talks and the envoys

Russia-Ukraine negotiations under US mediation are set for Tuesday, 10 November, and Wednesday, 11 November, in Abu Dhabi. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to represent Washington there, and Kushner is also Trump's son-in-law. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the radio station RTL that France will take part in the discussions in Abu Dhabi. He could not yet say who would represent Paris, but said France will certainly be there.

Strikes and a power outage in Ukraine

Authorities said a Russian drone struck emergency workers on rescue missions in southern Ukraine on Sunday, 8 November. The attack hit a former school and a nearby shelter in the village of Komyshuvakha, a place previously targeted by Russian bombs. No injuries were reported, but rescue equipment was damaged. Ukraine said an earlier attack on Monday, 2 November, killed at least 55 people, and about 50 people remain missing.

Power has been restored at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine. The plant had lost its external electricity supply and, for a period of hours, relied on backup generators to cool the reactor.

European drills for the postwar period

La Repubblica reports that the Multinational Force Ukraine (Man-u), which it describes as the military arm of the Volenterosi group preparing for the postwar period, starts its first military exercises on 8 November. The drills will be held mainly in Poland, with some in Turkey and France. Some 2,800 soldiers are due to take part, with the exercises running until 22 November. The first drills therefore fall in the same weeks as the Abu Dhabi talks, which are set for 10 and 11 November.