France will participate in the upcoming peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, which will be hosted by the United States in Abu Dhabi. Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Foreign Minister, announced this news on Sunday and emphasized that Europe will be well represented in these negotiations.
France's active presence in the negotiations
Barrot said in an interview with RTL radio: "France will be present in these negotiations, and Europeans will be well represented. I cannot say who will represent France in these negotiations, but we will definitely be in Abu Dhabi."
The peace negotiations, scheduled for November 10 and 11, will be the first talks between Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow since a meeting was held in February. However, it is still unclear what role Europe will play in these negotiations.
Europe's concerns about its role in the negotiations
Barrot added: "In recent weeks, Europeans have made their voices heard to the American mediator and emphasized that no discussion about the future of the continent can overlook our expectations and demands."
The spokesperson for the European Commission, Paola Pinho, announced on Friday that there are no further details to provide, but added: "It is clear that decision-making on matters related to European security is the responsibility of the European Union."
The European Union is trying to reach an agreement on who should represent it in the peace negotiations and to determine whether someone should be in contact with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.
Letter from the Prime Minister of Italy to the President of the European Council
Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, called for this matter to be addressed in a letter to Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council, and Costa included it on the agenda for the leaders' meeting on November 13. Meloni's letter was prompted by phone calls from Alexander Stubb and Jonathan Garstka, from Finland and Norway, to Putin on October 27, which surprised some European leaders.
Meanwhile, the European Commission held discussions on Wednesday regarding the reconstruction of Ukraine, with representatives from Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, NATO, and the World Bank in attendance.
Europe's security concerns
The United States government has recently been talking about a "big and beautiful deal" following a meeting with Putin's representative, Kirill Dmitriev. This plan has raised concerns among European Union officials, as they fear it may overlook the continent and encourage Putin.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, responded to this plan on Friday, stating: "We currently have a European security structure — NATO and the European Union each have their roles. We must ensure that Ukraine is integrated into this structure. The problem is that Russia continues to violate the foundational agreements of this structure. Putin does not have a veto over European security."
