France confirms European presence at Abu Dhabi Ukraine peace talks

European nations will sit at the Abu Dhabi table when US-mediated talks on ending the Ukraine war open on Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed Sunday.

Barrot told RTL radio that "the Europeans will be represented and France will be in Abu Dhabi" to participate in these talks, and added that France would ensure Europe's voice is heard.

The confirmation carries weight because Russia had suggested there would be no place for European representatives at the talks, which until now had been framed as a trilateral format involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States at the level of officials rather than leaders. The identities of the participants have not been made public.

Barrot acknowledged that in past rounds "there have been discussions, sometimes without the Europeans and sometimes with" but stressed that "this time they will participate."

The announcement came after President Donald Trump stoked concern among European allies by predicting a "very big" deal with Russia covering not only the Ukraine war but "all of Europe." That framing has been treated warily by European capitals, which have long rejected Moscow's desire to redraw the European security architecture.

On Thursday, US, European, Ukrainian and NATO officials met in Brussels ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks. A NATO spokeswoman said they "sought to advance a just and sustainable end to the war in Ukraine." Jared Kushner, the US president's envoy, joined by videolink and said Washington was working on "a broader European security architecture that can help establish the conditions for lasting peace," adding that the US would "consult closely with our European partners on the sidelines" and, if progress is made, aim to move toward "a broader multilateral format with their direct participation."