French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot insists that France and Europe will be “represented” at the forthcoming negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United States.
French negotiators would be in Abu Dhabi to take part in these talks, Barrot confirmed in an interview with broadcaster RTL. He did not provide any further details. “I cannot yet tell you who will represent France on this occasion,” he added.
The minister explained that the Europeans had made their voices heard in recent weeks and made it clear to the US mediators that no discussion about the future of the continent could ignore their demands. “France will be there to make the voice of Europe heard, as it is the continent most directly affected,” Barrot elaborated.
The talks are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday and are set to include discussion on the next steps towards peace in the war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for years.
US President Donald Trump has spoken of a “big, beautiful” agreement on Ukraine, a peace plan that has so far been little more than a vague concept and is intended to encompass the whole of Europe and Russia.
When asked about this, Barrot said: “I do not know the details.” He insisted that it goes without saying that no agreement affecting the European security architecture can be drawn up or even discussed without the Europeans.
Trump’s son-in-law and negotiator, Jared Kushner, described on the platform X a security framework that would be based on communication, military transparency and the reduction of risks of escalation.
He stated that the US would “coordinate closely” with its European partners on the sidelines of the talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed scepticism about the proposal for a new European security framework. First, there must be a discussion on how to end the war, Zelensky wrote on X.
Source: www.yahoo.com
