EC Midday press briefing of 12/11/2026
12 November 2026
Contents updated at 07:32
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European Commission
Follow its sittings00:00 - 00:30
Speaker 1
Hello Arianna. My question relates to the peace talks that took place in Abu Dhabi, you were represented there. At the end of the talks the Russian negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky said, and I quote, "the conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated that the entire European security system is functioning very poorly. The entire organism must be treated, a simply bandage will not suffice." At the same time, the Russians refuse to sit down with Europeans while in Abu Dhabi.
00:30 - 00:43
Speaker 3
What is your response to Medinsky? Should the European security architecture be treated, as he said? And under which conditions should this topic be discussed? Thank you.
00:43 - 02:07
Speaker 2
Thank you, Jorge. Of course you will not be surprised that we will not be commenting on comments. More generally, what I can say is that, well, first of all, I can point to the door step that President von der Leyen has just given. In this door step, she has said that she very much welcomes the peace talks in Abu Dhabi and she also said that it's good that Europeans were represented to safeguard our interests, but especially because President Zelenskyy had asked for it and he asked that Europeans support him in these negotiations and we will support Ukraine, be it in wartime or in peacetime. So this as a general remark on the talks.
Then for what regards the Europe's security framework, again, I will quote the president. She has been giving press statements in the past days. She gave one on Monday. She gave one on Tuesday, if I'm not mistaken. And I think it was on Tuesday when she said that "any meaningful discussion about Europe's security architecture can only be undertaking once a ceasefire in Ukraine has been achieved, and it must take place in an appropriate forum, in particular with NATO allies and EU member states", end of quote.
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