Barrot: “France will be in Abu Dhabi” – Europe to have a seat in the Ukraine talks

Europe will have a place in the talks on the war in Ukraine to be held under US mediation in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, November 10, and Wednesday, November 11. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made that clear on Sunday, November 8, speaking on the French radio station RTL. “Europeans will be well represented. France will be in Abu Dhabi to take part in these discussions,” he said.

The French minister did not reveal who would represent his country. “I cannot yet tell you who will represent France, but France will certainly be there,” he said. Recalling that past meetings took place “sometimes without the Europeans and sometimes with them,” he stressed that “this time they will take part” and that France “will make sure Europe’s voice is heard.”

Until Mr Barrot’s statement, the meeting in the United Arab Emirates had been presented as a trilateral one, with officials rather than leaders from the United States, Ukraine and Russia. US envoy Steve Witkoff announced it on Monday, November 2. The agenda includes ending the war, post-war security arrangements and de-escalation measures.

The French intervention comes after statements by US President Donald Trump, who predicted a “very big” deal with Russia that, he said, would concern not only Ukraine but “the whole of Europe.” The wording sparked fears of an American turn toward the Kremlin; we reported on it earlier. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky consistently asks for the participation of European allies, while the Russian side has hinted that there is no place for them at the table. Ahead of the talks, Mr Zelensky denounced Russian strikes with North Korean KN-23 missiles on a vital energy facility.

On Thursday, November 5, a preparatory meeting in Brussels brought together officials from the US, Europe, Ukraine and NATO. Jared Kushner, the envoy and son-in-law of Mr Trump, took part by video link. He said the US is working on “a broader European security architecture” that can help create the conditions for lasting peace. He added that Washington would consult closely with European partners on the sidelines of the talks and, if there is progress, would seek a broader multilateral format with their direct participation.

Europeans view the American approach with reserve. For years they have rejected Moscow’s attempt to rewrite the rules of European security. Before the 2022 invasion, the Kremlin sent NATO an ultimatum that included the withdrawal of allied forces from Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Warsaw that the EU will not implement any deal it is not party to. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has already assessed that the war will end with a deal and not a clean victory for either side.