Europe Joins U.S.-Brokered Ukraine Peace Talks in Abu Dhabi
French officials will attend the November 10-11 sessions despite Moscow's initial objection to a trilateral format.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
France intends to send representatives to the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi this week, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. The announcement confirms that European powers will join the U.S.-mediated session, a shift from the original plan that included only Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv.
The talks are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates. Barrot stated on French radio that "France will be there and will ensure that Europe's voice is heard." He did not specify whether French officials would actively negotiate or simply observe the proceedings. This fourth round of U.S.-brokered talks is the first since February in Geneva.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov initially opposed European participation, citing a previously agreed trilateral format. Speaking to a Russian news channel on Friday, Peskov criticized European governments for lacking a unified voice, though he conceded that security discussions would eventually require their input. President Donald Trump met with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Thursday, suggesting a deal "might involve all of Europe."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed caution regarding the process. Telling CNN on Friday, he noted he had not received specific details about the agreement Trump referenced. Zelenskyy compared the situation to the 1945 Yalta conference, where Allied leaders determined Europe's fate without consulting all affected nations.
Russia's delegation will include Vladimir Medinsky, a senior aide to President Vladimir Putin. For the first time, the group will also feature Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, along with military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. This expanded lineup suggests Moscow is preparing to address political and military issues, although the Institute for the Study of War noted some of these officials have previously sought to slow negotiations.
The timing of the talks coincides with shifting political dynamics in the United States. Zelenskyy indicated that recent midterm victories for Democrats could enhance Ukraine's access to U.S. aid. Conversely, Russia may aim to finalize a deal under the current administration before a new Congress takes office in January. A potential trilateral meeting between Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Putin is also being discussed for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen later this month.
Military operations continue alongside diplomatic efforts. Zelenskyy reported that Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles at the Kyiv area overnight Saturday, with only four intercepted. In southern Ukraine, the death toll from a guided-bomb strike on an aid site in Komyshuvakha rose to at least 55.
