European Officials to Join US-Mediated Russia-Ukraine Talks in Abu Dhabi

سرویس بین‌الملل اوپا، ۱۷ آبان (اوپا) — European countries, including France, will be involved in talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives opening on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi under US mediation, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on RTL and Public Sénat. While confirming France's presence at the negotiations, Barrot stated that he would not personally be at the negotiating table and that France's specific representative has not yet been named.

"The Europeans will be well represented and France will be in Abu Dhabi to take part in these talks," Barrot said. He emphasized that European nations have made clear to American mediators that no discussions concerning the future of the continent can bypass European expectations and demands. The talks were previously presented as trilateral negotiations between Ukrainian, Russian, and American officials, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed for European allies to be included.

The diplomatic development follows US President Donald Trump meeting with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, after which Trump predicted the imminent conclusion of a major agreement with Russia regarding Ukraine. Barrot responded that he remained unaware of the specifics behind the US president's remarks, reiterating that no agreement carrying consequences for European security architecture can be designed or discussed without European participation.

Separately, Barrot criticized hard-left French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, labeling him a mouthpiece for the Kremlin following Mélenchon's remarks advocating for a referendum on the status of the Donbass region. The war in Ukraine has emerged as a central point of contention in France's political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential campaign, with both far-right and hard-left figures facing scrutiny over their stances on Russian relations and military aid.