France to join Abu Dhabi peace talks with Ukraine, US, and Russia
Paris will send a representative to the November 10 and 11 meetings, following a private meeting between Donald Trump and a Kremlin envoy earlier this week.
By Bianca Herrera ·
One additional nation will take a seat at the upcoming table of four in Abu Dhabi. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on RTL radio that France will participate in the trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. The talks are scheduled for November 10 and 11.
The diplomatic timeline began earlier this month. On November 5, US President Donald Trump met privately with Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Vladimir Putin. Trump subsequently announced a "big agreement" involving Ukraine, Russia, and Europe. Steve Witkoff, the US President's Special Envoy, confirmed that the trilateral negotiations would proceed in Abu Dhabi with a focus on steps toward peace.
Barrot stated that France will be present at the negotiating table to ensure European interests are represented. He described Europe as the party most directly affected by the conflict and its eventual settlement. The minister noted that European governments have made their positions clear to the American mediator. He asserted that no discussions regarding the future of the continent can ignore European expectations and demands.
The French government has not yet identified the specific official who will travel to the United Arab Emirates. Barrot said he could not yet say who would represent France at the meeting, but he confirmed the country would undoubtedly be there. This addition transforms the originally announced trilateral format into a broader multilateral gathering.
European leaders have expressed varying levels of confidence in the process. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warned allies against conducting negotiations without accounting for the security interests of Eastern Europe. Barrot’s remarks align with a wider push by European states to maintain a direct presence in the final stages of diplomacy.
The meeting is set to begin on Tuesday, November 10. Participants will discuss further steps toward ending the war. The inclusion of France signals that European nations intend to influence the terms of any potential settlement directly rather than through secondary channels.
