France says Europe will finally get a seat in US-led Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said European representatives, including France, will join the United States-mediated talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, after earlier discussions had often sidelined Europe.
Paris – French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told RTL radio that Europe will be represented at the United States-mediated talks with Moscow and Kyiv scheduled for Nov. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi. He said France will be present to ensure "Europe's voice is heard," underscoring how often European interests have been pushed aside in negotiations shaping the continent's security.
The meetings have been described as a trilateral format involving officials from Ukraine, Russia and the United States, rather than heads of state. The specific participants have not been disclosed. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for European involvement, Russian officials have previously indicated they might exclude European representatives. Barrot noted that past discussions sometimes omitted Europeans, but this time they will take part, a reminder that any durable settlement cannot be imposed over Europe's head.
Ahead of the Abu Dhabi session, officials from the United States, Europe, Ukraine and NATO met in Brussels. A NATO spokeswoman said the meeting aimed to "advance a just and sustainable end to the war in Ukraine."
Jared Kushner, the U.S. president's envoy, joined the Brussels talks by video link and said the United States is working on "a broader European security architecture that can help establish the conditions for lasting peace." He added that Washington will "consult closely with our European partners on the sidelines" of the Abu Dhabi talks and, if progress is made, will seek a broader multilateral format with direct European participation.