Europeans Join Abu Dhabi Talks on Ukraine

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said today, Sunday, that Europeans will participate in talks regarding Ukraine in Abu Dhabi this week.

Barrot clarified in radio statements, "Europeans will be represented, and France will be present in Abu Dhabi to take part in these negotiations," adding, "I cannot yet tell you who will represent France on this occasion, but it will be present."

The French announcement comes days before the anticipated talks in the UAE capital, scheduled for November 10 and 11, with the participation of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, as part of diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement ending the war ongoing since February 2022.

The Kremlin had confirmed the participation of a Russian delegation in the talks, led by Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky, who previously headed the Russian delegation in earlier negotiation rounds.

On the Ukrainian side, Rustem Umerov, head of Kyiv's negotiating delegation, leads the participating team, according to Ukrainian officials, while the delegation is expected to include several senior political and security officials.

Washington seeks through this round to push both parties toward discussing post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian issues, alongside steps necessary to reach a peace agreement.

US envoy Steve Witkoff had announced that the talks would address these files, within the Trump administration's efforts to accelerate reaching a settlement.

The European participation comes at a time when European capitals are intensifying their moves to ensure their presence in the negotiating track, fearing that any direct US-Russian settlement could lead to decisions concerning continental security and Ukraine's future without European involvement.