Europe's attendance at Abu Dhabi peace talks, clarified
on Google
Europe will be represented by officials from Germany, France, the U.K., NATO, and the EU at the Nov. 10 peace talks with Russia, a senior EU diplomat has confirmed to the Kyiv Independent.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that "the Europeans will be well-represented, and France will be in Abu Dhabi," in a Nov. 8 interview.
Originally, the talks in Abu Dhabi were expected to be in a trilateral format only, with representation from Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S.
"The EU will be present alongside our partners," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a press statement on Nov. 9.
The EU diplomat confirmed to Kyiv Independent that the bloc would be represented alongside NATO and national security advisers from the E3 countries, but said the exact format remains "unclear."
For example, the above-mentioned representatives could sandwich the trilateral talks, with briefings and debriefings on either side. Or they could be directly included in an expanded format.
The list of individuals seems to match what has previously been called "the Miami Format," where the EU is primarily represented by Bjoern Seibert, who serves as von der Leyen's Head of Cabinet.
Ukraine has supported the idea of European involvement in peace negotiations. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 6 that "issues concerning Europe's security must be discussed with the participation of European nations, all of which equally deserve guaranteed security."
However, the sheer number of meetings and plurality of representatives drew public frustration from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who ensured the subject would be added to the agenda when EU leaders meet in Ireland on Nov. 13.
Also unclear is the role of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who has held a flurry of phone calls with Zelensky, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Abu Dhabi peace talks are expected to take place Nov. 10-11, with the Kremlin saying it will send senior diplomats and military officials. Ukraine's delegation will be headed by foreign intelligence chief Rustem Umerov.
