Ukraine peace talks: EU to send diplomats with UK, France, Germany, Italy and Poland

European Union leaders said Europe will send a diplomatic team to the next Ukraine peace talks. European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU and five partners will take part. Those partners are the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Poland. The plan followed an EU leaders’ summit in Dublin focused on security and the war.

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Officials said Europe wanted a place in US-backed talks with Moscow and Kyiv. Many leaders feared being pushed aside during negotiations. European leaders also worried that Kyiv could be left exposed. Ukraine wanted strong backing from European allies. Russia opposed direct European involvement, saying Europe funds and arms Ukraine’s forces.

Ukraine peace talks: Europe seeks a seat

European leaders said they distrusted US President Donald Trump as a negotiating partner. Leaders pointed to tense clashes over trade, Greenland, and conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron warned Europe cannot depend on Washington. "Without Europeans, there is no support for Ukraine,\" Macron said at a Dublin meeting.

Macron also said, \"There is no more US support.\" Macron added, \"At the end of the day, we will be the ones to define and decide for our future security as Europeans,\". Macron’s office later published what was called a historic declaration by 40 European nations. It backed Ukraine and said Europe must shape decisions on its own security.

The declaration said the path to peace must be decided with Ukraine. It also said issues affecting European security must be decided with Europeans. Leaders feared Russian President Vladimir Putin might push Trump towards a deal. They warned it could weaken Ukraine and Europe’s security. Putin demanded NATO forces pull back from Russia’s borders.

Ukraine peace talks: Russia, US, and Europe tensions

As envoys from Washington, Moscow and Kyiv met in Abu Dhabi, Europeans held discussions nearby. UK, France and Germany attended those side talks. After a Dublin meeting late Thursday, US envoy Jared Kushner and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about Europe’s role. Zelenskyy said Europe would send a negotiating team, adding, \"They will have a voice.\"

Kushner said, \"We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table,\". Kushner added that Putin is willing to try. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Europe must first choose a representative. Peskov said, \"The Europeans squabble like spiders in a jar.\" This dispute highlighted divisions in European positions.

Ukraine peace talks: debate over a single European envoy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni backed the idea of one envoy. Meloni said the lack of a united voice encouraged freelance diplomacy. \"There are too many different groupings discussing the issue,\" Meloni said. Meloni criticised moves seen as uncoordinated, including an October call to Putin. That call involved Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Martin said European representation cannot be limited to the European Union alone. \"Its a European continentwide issue,\" Martin said. Martin pointed to Norway and Britain’s roles in supporting Ukraine. The broader question of who speaks for Europe has existed for decades. Europe can mean the EU, NATO, Schengen, or the European Political Community.

After US-brokered talks in the United Arab Emirates, Kushner said Europe should name one speaker. Kushner said doing so might be harder than getting Russia to accept Europeans. The comment echoed a well-known question about calling Europe. It underlined Washington’s frustration with Europe’s complex structures. Leaders said clarity mattered for the next talks.

Ukraine peace talks: EU candidates and wider concerns

France, Germany and the UK have acted as a leading group in past contacts. The three are often called the E3. Yet the UK left the EU in 2020, complicating an EU role. An E3 envoy could also upset smaller EU members. Eastern flank states said they face hybrid threats like influence campaigns and disruptive drones.

Some leaders preferred a senior EU official to represent Europe. Inside Brussels, two names were seen as leading candidates. They are Antonio Costa and the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas. Costa said, \"European security cannot be discussed without a European voice at the table,\". Costa added that Europe’s voice should be shared by states, the EU and NATO.

Costa earlier faced criticism after a discreet channel with Moscow was set up. Kallas, Estonia’s former prime minister, said on Friday that Europe already had a voice. \"Im the one who is representing Europe in the foreign and security policy. I know that the Russians dont want me, but, you know, do we have a say, who is representing Russia?\" Kallas said.

Kallas also said, \"We cant send any person that has no institutional role like the Americans are sending.\" Stubb was also mentioned as a possible choice. Stubb has strong ties with Trump and met in Oslo last month with Witkoff and Kushner. Still, several leaders said they were sceptical about the US-brokered approach.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk questioned the nature of the talks. \"In my opinion, calling them negotiations is an exaggeration,\" Tusk said. Tusk added, \"We will not build a new security architecture simply because the Russian president, or someone in the United States, wishes it.\" Leaders said Europe must protect its interests during any settlement.

With Trump due to travel to Beijing next week to meet Putin, concerns rose in Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned against an \"Anchorage moment\". Merz referred to earlier surprise moves during talks in Alaska. \"Please, no surprises,\" Merz said. Merz added, \"Continue to play in team Europe and in the team with Ukraine.\"

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs argued Europe had major strengths. Kulbergs said Europe was larger than Russia in population, economy and military power. \"We as Europe have to grow some bigger balls,\" Kulbergs said. Leaders said Europe’s planned team was meant to secure a direct role. The Dublin decisions set out who Europe wants at the table.

With inputs from PTI