Plans for a high-level meeting in Brussels this week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and the path toward ending Russia's war have been thrown into uncertainty, after Kyiv said changes to the American side's schedule meant it could no longer confirm the visit.
Dmytro Lytvyn, communications adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told reporters on Monday that the trip was now in question. Speaking to Ukrainian media on Sunday, Zelenskyy had said the talks were being prepared for 27 or 28 October, bringing together representatives of Ukraine, the United States and the European Union, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The meeting was intended to build on a series of diplomatic exchanges in Oslo last week, including talks between Zelenskyy and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, attended by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. According to Zelenskyy, wider discussions also involved security advisers to the leaders of Britain, France and Italy, alongside Björn Seibert, chief of staff to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Americans subsequently briefed their partners after Witkoff's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, Zelenskyy said. "We had a briefing from the Americans, and now they want not just a briefing, but to discuss security, guarantees, the EU and its involvement more broadly," he said. "They want a meeting in Brussels this week. The Americans, Ukraine, the EU at presidential level and NATO at secretary-general level. I don't know whether anyone else will be part of this group in Brussels."
The European Commission, asked about the planned talks, said it remained engaged in diplomatic efforts but offered no further details. "The Commission continues to participate in talks and efforts with allies and partners to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," a spokesperson told Euronews. "At this stage, we have no further information to share."
Diplomatic momentum and its limits
The apparent setback comes as European capitals push for a stronger role in any negotiations that could shape Ukraine's future. The EU has been seeking a seat at the table, as Washington's stance on the conflict appears to shift. The EU's push for a place in peace talks reflects a broader concern that decisions about European security should not be taken without European input.
Zelenskyy's proposed Brussels gathering was meant to signal unity among Kyiv's key backers, but the uncertainty highlights the fragility of that consensus. The US has been pressing for a more direct dialogue with Moscow, and Witkoff's visit to St Petersburg was seen as a sign of that approach. Meanwhile, trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US are expected in November, according to Zelenskyy.
The timing is delicate. European leaders are also grappling with the financial implications of continued support for Ukraine. The collision between peace efforts and EU budget pressures has become more acute as the bloc considers how to fund future commitments. A recent reset in EU-Hungary relations has added another layer of complexity to the bloc's internal dynamics.
For now, the immediate question is whether the Brussels meeting will go ahead at all. The cancellation of such a high-profile gathering would be a symbolic blow, even if the underlying diplomatic channels remain open. European officials have stressed that they are not abandoning efforts to reach a just and lasting peace, but the lack of clarity from Washington is making coordination harder.
Zelenskyy's advisers have not given a new date for the talks, and it is unclear whether the US will propose an alternative. The coming weeks will be critical, with the next round of negotiations between Ukrainian, American and Russian teams reportedly planned for the first half of November. Whether those talks take place with or without a prior meeting in Brussels remains to be seen.
