French Foreign Minister Barrot: Europeans Will Join Abu Dhabi Ukraine Talks; Russia Objects
PARIS — French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told RTL radio on Sunday, November 8, that European countries will take part in the Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11, and that France will be there. 'The Europeans will be well represented; France will be in Abu Dhabi to take part in these discussions,' he said. 'France will be there and will ensure that Europe's voice is heard.' He did not name France's representative and said he would not personally be at the negotiating table.
The round, mediated by the United States, had previously been presented as a three-way format among the United States, Russia and Ukraine. On November 5, U.S., European and Ukrainian officials met NATO representatives in Brussels to prepare. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said he wants European allies involved. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has said Washington will bring the Ukrainian and Russian delegations together in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 to discuss ending the war, post-war security agreements and de-escalation.
Russia's objections were on record before and after the French announcement: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had ruled out a European role, saying the trilateral format had already been agreed, and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Saturday evening that European countries have no place at the negotiating table over Ukraine.
Whether European officials will join the formal sessions directly or hold separate consultations in the same city remains unclear and will only be settled when the talks open.
(Source: Reuters)
Source: Reuters
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美方首席谈判代表维特科夫（右）与库什纳（中）在克里姆林宫与俄方代表德米特里耶夫（左）会面（资料图）。kremlin.ru 摄，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons，本站档案图复用。 / Photo: U.S. lead negotiators Steve Witkoff (right) and Jared Kushner (center) meet Russian representative Kirill Dmitriev (left) at the Kremlin (file photo). By kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; GSM archive reuse.
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