• Analysis
Abu Dhabi Ukraine talks: France says Europe will take part in US-mediated negotiations
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Sunday that France and European representatives will join the US-mediated Abu Dhabi Ukraine talks, to be held Tuesday and Wednesday.
France confirms European representation
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on RTL radio that European representatives will attend the US-mediated Abu Dhabi Ukraine talks. "The Europeans will be represented and France will be in Abu Dhabi to participate in these talks," he said Sunday.
The sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Barrot contrasted the arrangement with previous rounds of diplomacy, noting there have been discussions "sometimes without the Europeans and sometimes with" but "this time they will participate". "France will be there and will ensure that Europe's voice is heard," he added.
The Europeans will be represented and France will be in Abu Dhabi to participate in these talks
A trilateral format, now with Europe
The Abu Dhabi meetings were originally framed as a trilateral format at the level of officials, not leaders, bringing together representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States. The identities of those who would take part have not been made public.
- •Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made clear he wants European allies involved
- •Russia has suggested there would be no place for European representatives at the table
Brussels groundwork and Kushner's remarks
Ahead of the Abu Dhabi round, US, European, Ukrainian and NATO officials met in Brussels on Thursday. Jared Kushner, the US president's envoy and son-in-law, joined by videolink. A NATO spokeswoman said participants "sought to advance a just and sustainable end to the war in Ukraine".
Kushner said the United States was working on "a broader European security architecture that can help establish the conditions for lasting peace". European allies view the American approach warily, having long rejected Moscow's desire to redraw that architecture; before launching the war in 2022, the Kremlin demanded NATO withdraw its troops from eastern Europe, which the alliance refused.
Kushner said Thursday that Washington will "consult closely with our European partners on the sidelines" and, if progress is made, "aim to move toward a broader multilateral format with their direct participation".
Trump's predicted deal
Barrot's remarks came after President Donald Trump predicted a "very big" deal with Russia involving not only the Ukraine war but "all of Europe".
The talks take place Tuesday and Wednesday under US mediation, with participant identities not yet made public.
