France to Join Abu Dhabi Talks on Russia‑Ukraine Conflict, Says French FM Barrot

European nations, including France, will take part in the Abu Dhabi‑hosted negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that begin Tuesday, a French foreign minister announced via RTL and Public Sénat.

“The Europeans will be well represented and France will be present in Abu Dhabi for the talks,” said French FM Jean‑Noël Barrot, noting that he will not sit at the negotiating table personally.

“I cannot yet name the French representative, but France will be present,” he added.

In recent weeks, European representatives have emphasized that any dialogue must address their expectations and demands, Barrot said.

Following his meeting with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly forecast a swift, major agreement with Russia on Ukraine that could address the entire continent, promising broad applause, although he offered no further specifics.

Barrot on Sunday clarified that he was unaware of the President’s intentions, stressing that any settlement with repercussions for European security could not be conceived or discussed without European input.

Scheduled for 10‑11 November, the talks were initially framed as a three‑party effort involving Ukrainian, Russian and American officials; nonetheless, President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly urged Kyiv to include its European partners.

Mélenchon, ‘mouthpiece of the Kremlin’

Jean‑Noël Barrot condemned Mélenchon as a “mouthpiece of the Kremlin” after the left‑wing leader called for a referendum on the Donbass status during his recent rally at Le Bourget.

Jean‑Noël Barrot denounced Jean‑Luc Mélenchon as a “mouthpiece of the Kremlin” after the left‑wing leader called for a referendum on the Donbass status during his recent rally at Le Bourget.

While the LFI programme, “L’Avenir en commun,” launched this week offers little attention to the Ukrainian war, especially compared with the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict, Barrot used the description to criticize Mélenchon.

Moscow has organized pseudo‑consultations in the annexed territory of Crimea and in four southeastern Ukrainian regions, steps that Kyiv and the broader international community have rejected.

Barrot warned that global efforts by Moscow to portray the Donbass as inherently Russian and to frame the conflict as a liberation mission are alarmingly serious, rendering Mélenchon’s path to office untenable in his view.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has become a politicized issue in the 2027 presidential race, where Marine Le Pen, leading in the polls, and Jean‑Luc Mélenchon, currently second, have expressed views perceived as aligning with Putin.

The far‑right candidate announced in mid‑October that she would cut France’s annual financial assistance to Ukraine—about 6 billion euros—if she were elected president in 2027.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered, noting that Madame Le Pen lacks a clear understanding of key aspects of bilateral military cooperation and defending what he calls a mutually beneficial partnership that would enhance French security.

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