According to the Financial Times, European diplomats are planning to block discussions on revising Europe’s security architecture during the upcoming negotiations in Abu Dhabi.

The newspaper reports that EU representatives intend to prevent Moscow from using the US-led talks to advance Russian proposals for reshaping the continent’s security framework. Diplomats from France, Germany and Britain are expected to travel to the United Arab Emirates, along with the chiefs of staff of the European Commission president and NATO secretary general.

European governments insist that broader discussions on European security unrelated to Ukraine should take place only after peace negotiations with Kiev have concluded, rather than alongside them. Their position is aimed at keeping the talks focused on resolving the Ukrainian conflict before addressing wider security arrangements.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul previously rejected Russia’s calls for a new European security architecture. He argued that European countries should concentrate on restoring the existing security framework instead of replacing it with a new system.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has opposed European participation in negotiations over Ukraine. She argued that European representatives have no place at the negotiating table given their governments' efforts to deploy military contingents on Ukrainian territory.