Europe Joins Abu Dhabi Ukraine Talks
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that European governments will participate in US-mediated negotiations with Russia and Ukraine scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
By Olga Menon ·
European governments will join US-mediated negotiations with Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi this week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed on Sunday that France and other European allies will be present at the talks. The sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday under American mediation.
Barrot stated that Europe will be represented in the discussions. "The Europeans will be represented and France will be in Abu Dhabi to participate in these talks," he told RTL radio. He added that France will ensure Europe's voice is heard during the proceedings.
The announcement follows remarks by US President Donald Trump that concerned European leaders. Trump predicted a major deal with Russia covering the Ukraine war and the rest of Europe. These comments revived fears in the region regarding a shift in American policy toward the Kremlin.
Before Barrot's statement, officials described the Abu Dhabi meeting as a trilateral gathering of representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. The specific identities of the participants have not been released. The format has changed over time, with Barrot noting that previous discussions sometimes included Europeans and sometimes did not.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long advocated for European involvement in any peace process. Moscow has previously suggested that European representatives would not have a role at the negotiating table. The current arrangement grants Europe a direct seat in these specific talks.
Preparations for the summit took place in Brussels on Thursday. US, European, Ukrainian, and NATO officials met to coordinate ahead of the Abu Dhabi sessions. A NATO spokeswoman said the participants sought to advance a just and sustainable end to the war in Ukraine. Jared Kushner, the US president's envoy, joined the meeting by videolink.
Kushner stated that Washington is working on a broader European security architecture to establish conditions for lasting peace. He said the US will consult closely with European partners on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi talks. If progress is made, the United States aims to move toward a broader multilateral format with direct European participation.
