France Says Europeans Will Be in the Room at Abu Dhabi Ukraine Talks

PARIS — Europe is getting a seat at the table. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Sunday that European officials will take part in talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi next week, telling RTL radio that the continent will be well represented at the discussions.

France will definitely be there, Barrot said, though he played coy on who would wear the French name tag. He said he couldn't yet say who would represent Paris on the occasion.

The talks are set for Nov 10-11, according to US envoy Steve Witkoff, who said Washington would bring delegations from Ukraine and Russia together in the Emirati capital. The agenda covers ending Moscow's war against Ukraine, post-war security agreements and de-escalation.

That Europeans would be included is a notable detail. Much of the diplomacy aimed at winding down the conflict has been driven by Washington, with Kyiv and Moscow at the center and European capitals watching from the wings.

Barrot's comments put Paris squarely in the frame, and by extension the wider European bloc, as the two-day session approaches. The question of who actually shows up for France — and who else Europe sends — remains open.

For now, the guest list is taking shape ahead of a meeting that will test whether talks can move beyond positioning toward concrete security arrangements.