Europeans will join Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi, French foreign minister says

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on RTL and Public Sénat that European nations, including France, will participate in the upcoming talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi. The talks, which are set to begin on Tuesday, will be mediated by the United States. While Barrot will not personally attend the negotiations, he expressed confidence that France would be well represented in Abu Dhabi.

In recent weeks, Europe has communicated its expectations and demands to American mediators, emphasizing that discussions on the continent's future cannot overlook these concerns. French President Donald Trump claimed that a major agreement with Russia on Ukraine could be reached, potentially benefiting all of Europe. However, Barrot noted that he was unaware of Trump's specific plans, stressing that any agreement would require European involvement due to its implications for European security.

The talks, initially scheduled for November 10 and 11, had been described as trilateral negotiations involving Ukrainian, Russian, and American officials. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had urged for European allies to be included in the discussions. Jean-Noël Barrot dismissed opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon's stance on the conflict, describing him as a "mouthpiece of the Kremlin" due to Mélenchon's advocacy for a referendum on the status of Donbass, largely controlled by Russian forces.

Moscow has reportedly conducted sham referendums in annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine, which have been rejected by Kyiv and the international community. Barrot criticized Mélenchon's views, stating that they disqualified him from holding political office. The war in Ukraine has become a contentious issue in the 2027 presidential campaign, with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen favoring an end to French financial aid to Ukraine and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, currently in second place, expressing support for a "win-win" partnership with Russia, which he claimed benefits France's security.