France says European officials will attend Abu Dhabi talks; Kremlin says Europe has no role

A new round of U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is scheduled in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Al Jazeera gives the dates as 10-11 November. It is the fourth round of U.S.-brokered talks between the two countries. It is also the first in several months. NPR says it is the first since talks in Geneva in February.

The talks have been presented as a trilateral format of the United States, Russia and Ukraine. Europe is not officially part of them. On Sunday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France and other European officials would be present. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said European officials would have no role. He commented publicly on the talks on Monday, 9 November. It is unclear whether European officials would negotiate, observe or be involved in another way.

Vladimir Medinsky will lead Russia's delegation. It will include Mikhail Galuzin, Igor Kostyukov and General Yury Zhigarlovsky (spelled Zhygarlovsky by Al Jazeera). According to NPR, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov will also take part. Only NPR lists him. According to Al Jazeera, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will lead the U.S. team. Al Jazeera, citing the Kyiv Independent, reported that Rustem Umerov will lead Ukraine's team. The reports do not include a Ukrainian government statement confirming this.

According to NPR, Russia confirmed it would return to talks after Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg in October.

What is disputed

The main dispute is whether European officials will take part. According to Al Jazeera, Barrot said officials from France, Britain, Germany, NATO and the European Commission would be present. Al Jazeera also reported that an EU official told AFP that national security officials of the EU, NATO, France, Germany and the United Kingdom would be on site. The Kremlin says the agreed format is trilateral and European officials will not be included. The reports do not specify who will attend or in what role.

What each side says

• France: "France will be there and will ensure that Europe's voice is heard," NPR quoted Barrot as saying. According to NPR, he did not say who would represent Paris.
• Kremlin: Peskov says the trilateral format was already agreed. According to NPR, he accused European governments of failing to decide who speaks for them. NPR also says he acknowledged that security talks would at some point require Europe's involvement.
• United States: On Thursday, Trump said a coming agreement was "going to involve more than Ukraine" and "might involve all of Europe", NPR reported. Al Jazeera reports he has urged Kyiv to cede territory. According to NPR, Witkoff said the agenda includes postwar security arrangements, de-escalation and humanitarian issues.
• Ukraine: According to NPR, Zelenskyy told CNN he had not been given details of the agreement Trump referenced. NPR quoted him as saying: "For me, it's not simple, and it can be dangerous." According to Al Jazeera, Ukraine seeks Russian withdrawal and security guarantees.
• Russia: Russia demands that Ukraine give up large parts of its territory and renounce NATO membership. According to Al Jazeera, it also opposes foreign troop deployments in Ukraine after a deal.

Analysis

The conflicting statements from Paris and Moscow leave open how Europe will relate to the Abu Dhabi talks. If European officials attend only as observers, the trilateral format the Kremlin describes might remain formally intact. If they seek a direct negotiating role, the talks could face early procedural friction. Peskov's reported acknowledgement that security talks would at some point require Europe's involvement suggests the question may return later. Trump's remark that a deal might involve all of Europe adds a further element. Zelenskyy has said he lacks details of that agreement. Much will depend on the roles that are eventually defined, which the reports do not yet describe.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.