US and Europe Push for Joint Role in Ukraine Peace Talks

European foreign ministers urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure Europe has a voice in peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. This request came during a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Paris on Monday. The meeting took place ahead of trilateral talks set to begin in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated, "Europe belongs at this table. There can be no solution without Europe – only with Europe."

Key Details

The upcoming talks will be the first real negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since February. U.S. officials said they want a "final end" to the conflict. Discussions will focus on a new long-term security framework that includes Europe. This follows a series of U.S. military actions alongside Israel against Iran. It also comes after significant losses for Donald Trump's Republican Party in the recent midterm elections.

Concerns remain that Russia may keep its hardline stance. Russia is demanding a rollback of NATO's military presence in Eastern Europe. U.S. officials noted that Europe’s participation would be crucial for any agreement. They suggested reviving the NATO-Russian council, which was suspended after Russia's invasion in 2022. They also mentioned potential security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO's Article 5.

Background

As the talks unfold, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will join discussions in Paris. He reiterated that "no one has the right to decide our fate behind our backs." The need for a unified European representation in negotiations has grown amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure.

Related coverage: Zelenskiy Seeks Clear Security Guarantees Before Peace Talks.

Based on reporting by: aljazeera.com, theguardian.com