National security advisers from Germany, France, and the UK will take part in Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi this week, a German government spokesperson said.
"It is important for us that we are part of this process," Deputy Government Spokesperson Steffen Meyer said at a press conference in Berlin on Monday.
"We have always made that clear, because we aim to represent not only Ukrainian interests but also European security interests."
Asked whether the advisers from the three European powers would sit at the main negotiating table or hold separate talks with the Ukrainian side, Meyer declined to give specifics.
"Such talks, especially when they are scheduled over several days, always have a certain dynamic. So I will not say anything here now about the lineup, seating arrangements or other details," he said.
“We have substantive interests in these talks, and we will pursue them on the ground. We are closely involved and are part of this process,” the spokesperson added.
Principles for Ukraine peace deal
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that upcoming US-mediated trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi will discuss principles to be approved at the conclusion of negotiations for a settlement to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
“There is a shared understanding that the negotiations are focused on agreeing upon the principles that will be endorsed at the conclusion of talks on a comprehensive settlement,” Larov said at a joint press conference in Moscow following bilateral talks with his Peruvian counterpart Carlos Espa on Monday.
Lavrov said that the inclusion of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, alongside his counterpart Mikhail Galuzin, in Moscow’s delegation at the negotiations is “entirely natural,” given his focus on North Atlantic affairs and arms control issues, among other details.
Expressing that he has heard US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks about the upcoming negotiations, Lavrov said the agenda for the talks places security issues concerning Russia, Ukraine, and Europe as a whole as the first item.
“We certainly welcome such an approach,” Lavrov said, noting the topic of Ukraine was touched upon during his negotiations with his Peruvian counterpart.
Moscow has long maintained that the US-mediated negotiations must remain strictly trilateral, involving only Russia, Ukraine and the US, with no direct role for European powers at the negotiating table.
The Abu Dhabi talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will mark the fourth round of US-mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine under the Trump administration and the first since meetings in Geneva in February.
