European Ministers Tell Rubio Europe Must Have a Say in Ukraine Deal

European foreign ministers told United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Paris that Europe must have a say in any deal to end Russia’s war on Ukraine. The diplomatic push on November 10, 2026, coincides with US-mediated peace talks taking place in Abu Dhabi.

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven gathered in the French capital for meetings, marking Secretary Rubio’s first meeting with allies since last week’s midterm elections, in which the Republican Party suffered stunning losses, Al Jazeera reported.

Who is attending the Paris talks?

The two-day diplomatic gathering runs from November 9 to November 10, 2026, according to the official United States Department of State public schedule. Secretary Rubio is joined on the trip by Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison M. Hooker and Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson.

Rubio meets Ukraine FM in Paris

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In addition to G7 members Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Korea, and Brazil are also participating in the sessions, per Al Jazeera’s reporting.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha traveled to Paris to join a session on Ukraine. UA.news noted via Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu that Rubio’s schedule placed Ukraine in the spotlight ahead of the broader ministerial agenda.

BREAKING!! Rubio’s Tuesday Paris schedule puts Ukraine front and center. He’ll meet Sybiha before joining G7 talks, including a working lunch focused on support for Ukraine. The meetings come as separate U. S.-Ukraine-Russia talks are underway in Abu Dhabi.

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What does Europe demand from Washington?

European officials used the working sessions to push back against potential shifts in continental security arrangements. German Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul stated the following after talks with Rubio.

Wadephul said that it is “certainly neither necessary, nor right, nor appropriate to make a fundamental change” to Europe’s security architecture. He added that “Europe belongs at this table. There can be no solution without Europe – only with Europe.”

Marco Rubio Takes Family Photo At The G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting In Paris, France

Growing anxiety has taken hold among G7 partners regarding Washington’s path, spanning a shift toward independent maneuvers alongside reduced backing for Ukrainian defense and relaxed penalties against Moscow.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed those sentiments prior to his arrival in France. “No one has the right to decide our fate behind our backs,” Sybiha said.

European Ministers Tell Rubio Europe Must Have a Say in Ukraine Deal — Photo: UA.NEWS

Are the Abu Dhabi talks real negotiations?

As diplomats conferred in Paris, separate US-mediated discussions between Russia and Ukraine got underway in Abu Dhabi. German Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul expressed skepticism about Moscow’s intentions in the United Arab Emirates.

Wadephul asserted that the Abu Dhabi talks must show whether Russia is “genuinely prepared to negotiate.” He urged Moscow to “give up maximalist demands” and warned against any “negotiation show” in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, pointing to ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.

Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Arrives In Paris, France, For G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

That assessment aligns with broader European diplomatic consensus. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas recently pointed out that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave no indication during G20 meetings in Atlanta that Moscow was ready for peace talks on Ukraine.

On October 30, Dmitry Peskov, who serves as the Russian Presidential Spokesperson, made remarks indicating that the Kremlin rejects any Ukrainian ceasefire arrangements out of apprehension that a temporary halt would give Kyiv an opportunity to reorganize.

Why is Iran on the agenda?

Beyond the war in Ukraine, Tuesday’s schedule in Paris features discussions on instability in the Middle East, with Iran expected to feature prominently. According to coverage from Al Jazeera, European partners have expressed doubts concerning the military campaign waged by the United States and Israel against Iran, worrying that additional American offensive maneuvers might exacerbate rather than resolve the regional conflict.

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Secretary Rubio’s itinerary on November 10 also included meetings with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

With transatlantic alignment strained by election results back home and divergent strategies, European leaders are engaging with Washington.