France Confirms European Participation in Upcoming Abu Dhabi Peace Talks on Ukraine

France has confirmed that European nations will take part in the upcoming United States-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Sunday that France will be present at the meetings scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. The discussions were previously set up as a three-way format involving officials from Ukraine, Russia and the United States, with the exact identities of the participants remaining private. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed for European allies to be involved in the peace process, though Russia has previously pushed back against European seats at the table. Mr. Barrot stated that while past talks have sometimes excluded Europe, European voices will now be heard. Ahead of the Abu Dhabi meetings, U.S., European, Ukrainian and NATO officials gathered in Brussels on Thursday to work toward a fair and lasting end to the conflict. US President Donald Trump recently predicted a major deal with Russia involving both the war and broader European security, which has caused concern among European allies.

Context

These diplomatic efforts touch on long-standing tensions over European security arrangements and NATO's presence in eastern Europe. Washington has indicated it will consult closely with European partners on the side and move toward a wider group format if progress is made during the talks.