Ukraine Seeks 10 Years of Western Funding to Maintain 800,000-Strong Army After Russia War, AFP Reports

Ukraine wants Western partners to finance an 800,000-strong military for at least a decade after the war with Russia ends, a senior Ukrainian source told AFP, as U.S.-mediated peace talks continued in Abu Dhabi on November 11. ⠀ The request reflects Kyiv’s insistence that ending the fighting must be accompanied by lasting defenses against another Russian attack. No funding figure or commitment from Western governments was disclosed. ⠀ Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said a ceasefire and security guarantees remained Kyiv’s priorities. Ahead of the talks, Ukrainian, American, European and NATO representatives reaffirmed their commitment to a strong postwar European security framework. ⠀ President Volodymyr Zelensky said the discussions had been constructive and that he welcomed changes in the approach of U.S. mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Kushner said the sides had narrowed their differences but offered no details of a possible settlement. ⠀ Russia, meanwhile, wants the negotiations to address the wider European security order. A source in Moscow’s delegation told AFP that ending the war was only one item on the agenda. Territorial disputes also remain unresolved: Moscow demands that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control. ⠀ The Abu Dhabi meetings are the first direct U.S.-mediated talks between the two sides since February. No agreement has been announced on funding Ukraine’s proposed postwar force.