Europeans are set to join the upcoming US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi regarding the war in Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced, as fierce energy infrastructure strikes left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian households without power.
European Representation at Abu Dhabi Talks
France and the European Union will participate in the upcoming peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates, Barrot stated on RTL radio, as reported by CNN Arabic. While the exact level of representation remains undecided, Barrot emphasized that European voices will be heard during the discussions arranged by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The Europeans will be represented, and France will be present in Abu Dhabi to take part in these discussions,
Barrot said, according to CNN Arabic. He added that European officials recently communicated to American mediators that no discussion regarding the continent’s future can bypass European aspirations and demands.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot says Europeans will participate in talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi next week.https://t.co/1XtKAFg1GX
The Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi will reportedly be headed by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, alongside Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin, military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov, and General Staff member Yuri Zhygarlovsky, as noted by CNN Arabic. Meanwhile, Monte Carlo Doualiya reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined readiness to end the war while demanding binding security guarantees.
Escalating Energy Infrastructure Strikes
On the ground, recent Russian military operations targeted critical energy facilities across Ukraine, triggering widespread blackouts. According to energy provider DTEK, a nighttime strike on Dnipropetrovsk left more than 600,000 residents without electricity, while a drone attack in Kharkiv severed power for approximately 250,000 subscribers, as detailed by Al Ittihad.
I spoke with @AlexStubb. We are coordinating our efforts ahead of the meeting in Abu Dhabi. We need strong, joint positions with our partners. Our top priority is ending the war. There must be no alternative to a just and lasting peace. Security guarantees must be real. Russia…
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost external electrical supply following the disconnection of the Vylvivna power line, forcing the facility to rely on emergency diesel generators.
| Region / Facility | Impacted Subscribers | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Dnipropetrovsk | Over 600,000 residents | Nighttime energy strike |
| Kharkiv | Approximately 250,000 subscribers | Drone infrastructure attack |
| Zaporizhzhia NPP | External power lost (Backup generators active) | Vylvivna power line disconnection |
Zelenskyy reported that over the past week, Russia deployed 115 missiles, roughly 1,900 guided aerial bombs, and more than 3,000 attack drones. He maintained that if Kyiv cannot secure anti-ballistic missile systems from international partners, the European Union must enact rigorous sanction packages.
Diplomatic Frameworks and Security Stances
Zelenskyy characterized the proposals during a CNN interview as straightforward yet potentially hazardous, reiterating that any peace plan must prioritize robust security guarantees for Kyiv, as outlined by CNN Arabic.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that its forces continue to strike military industrial targets, energy substations in Zhytomyr, and logistics vessels operating in the Black Sea near Odesa, maintaining high operational intensity ahead of the Abu Dhabi dialogue.
NEW: US officials are presenting a list of topics, including security guarantees and European security architecture, for upcoming negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, as issues that the United States, Europe, Ukraine, and Russia agree to discuss. Russia’s frequently reiterated… pic.twitter.com/7NEzfT59ex
More on Abu Dhabi
The idea of discussing European-Russian security infrastructure is not simple, and it can be dangerous. I was very clear with all our partners: I think that first we have to discuss how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Secondly, what the security infrastructure will look like… pic.twitter.com/13pFo839xm
Europe will take part in talks on Ukraine scheduled for next week in Abu Dhabi, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
Paris and Europe will have a seat at the table in next week’s U. S.-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said today. https://t.co/sr4X7uUWNJ
Europe plans to join Ukraine-US-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi France and other European countries will take part in the meeting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced. European representatives want to make their position heard by the participants. The minister did not… pic.twitter.com/O0cggYyoop
