Le Pen's plan to scrap EU diplomatic service and Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi
Trilateral talks among the U.S., Ukraine and Russia are under way in Abu Dhabi this week, while French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen plans to dismantle or sharply cut the EU's diplomatic service. European leaders are also preparing for their first joint meeting on AI.
Trilateral talks among the United States, Ukraine and Russia are taking place this week in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, putting Europe's attention back on Ukraine. The outcome could shape the continent's future: U.S. President Donald Trump has promised a "big, beautiful deal" that "might involve all of Europe," which has left European capitals on edge.
POLITICO Europe's Brussels Playbook podcast hosts Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur discuss the possible results of the talks.
Le Pen's target: the EU diplomatic arm
The second topic is the new adversary of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas: Marine Le Pen, a far-right candidate in France's presidential election. If she takes power in next year's vote, she wants to dismantle, or at least drastically reduce, the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic body. The episode considers what this could mean for Brussels' influence on the world stage.
European meeting on artificial intelligence
The third item is European leaders' preparation for their first joint meeting on AI. The podcast notes that administrative delays threaten to derail their ambitions before they get started.
The episode also references articles on Le Pen's challenge to Kallas, on talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that exposed Europe's deepest rift over Ukraine, on a warning from a Norwegian leader that Putin may not want peace, and on EU countries still failing to agree on AI.
