The Europeans' appeal to the White House: Demanding a seat at the negotiating table

New negotiations on an end to the Ukraine war are expected to take place in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and Wednesday. The talks are being held at the initiative of the United States with the presence of representatives from Washington, Moscow and Kiev.

Europe's leaders, as Ukraine's largest contributor and most important ally, have demanded a seat at the negotiating table. They don't want to leave the Ukrainians alone with negotiators from aggressor Russia and US envoys with unclear loyalties.

After new outbursts from US President Donald Trump last week, the Europeans' concern is also about the great powers taking the opportunity to redraw security in Europe.

- It will be a big agreement and it will involve more than Ukraine, he said after a meeting in the White House with the Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.

- I could even say that it can involve the whole of Europe.

Shortly thereafter, the president's son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner released the text of a new European security architecture, hinting that it could be part of the Abu Dhabi settlement.

European leaders cannot under any circumstances accept that, as they fear it would undermine NATO's role and strengthen Russia's influence over the continent. Therefore, they have demanded to have representatives on site, which now seems to have yielded results.

- In recent weeks, Europeans have made their voices heard and conveyed to the American mediator that no discussion regarding the future of the continent can disregard our expectations and demands, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to French RTL on Sunday.

However, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Monday that Europe will not be allowed to attend the talks, Reuters reports.

At the time, the German government had already confirmed that the country's national security adviser was traveling to Abu Dhabi. The EU Commission is also sending a representative from Brussels, a spokesperson for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Monday.

The European delegation also includes the security advisers from France and Great Britain, as well as a representative from NATO, according to the Financial Times and Politico, among others.

However, it is unclear whether the Europeans will have any influence over the talks or rather be given the role of audience.

The question of Europe's role was also discussed at a meeting with EU ambassadors in Brussels on Monday, according to information to DN.