The European Commission and the European Council are preparing a joint team of senior officials to be sent to the next round of talks, expected to take place in Abu Dhabi in early November.

Axar.az reports, citing Euronews, that the exact date is yet to be announced.

Bjoern Seibert, the powerful chief of cabinet of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is tipped to lead the delegation.

"We are adamantly committed not just to putting an end to the war but to achieve peace that will be just and sustainable. That is our aim and that is the stance we are defending in the ongoing talks," a Commission spokesperson said.

Is it notable that Brussels is now openly stating its intention to hold the upcoming negotiations in a multilateral format, which would mean having Europeans, Ukrainians, Americans and Russians at the same table and at the same time.

This has never happened before in the peace process. Until now, it was primarily the US that spoke with Russia, with episodic trilaterals that also featured Ukraine. (Kyiv and Moscow have a parallel track to release prisoners of war.)

It is even more notable that Russia has not straight-up rejected the European participation, as it has done repeatedly in the past. This time, it seems to seek it.