Europe picks five countries to speak for it at the Ukraine talks, and one of them is not in the EU
EU leaders meeting in Dublin on Friday chose Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, together with the EU's own institutions, as Europe's team for the next round of Ukraine peace talks. Ukraine and the US envoy Jared Kushner say Europeans will join the next round in Abu Dhabi next week. Russia has not agreed.
Live updates
- Friday evening, Dublin timeLatest
EU leaders in Dublin agree Europe's team for Ukraine talks: the EU institutions plus Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.
- Friday
Zelensky and US envoy Jared Kushner say a European delegation will join the next round of talks in Abu Dhabi next week; the Kremlin says nothing concrete has been discussed.
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Three things to know
- Europe will not send a single envoy. Its delegation will be the "E5" of the Coalition of the Willing plus the EU institutions; non-member Britain is in, the EU's foreign policy chief may not be.
- The work is split: the EU leads on Ukraine's European future, reconstruction and prosperity; security guarantees sit with the Coalition of the Willing, in coordination with NATO.
- The Kremlin says European participation depends on Europe's "genuine intention" to contribute to peace, and that nothing concrete has been discussed.
Europe has decided who will speak for it when the war in Ukraine is negotiated, and the answer is a committee rather than a single voice.
At an informal summit in Dublin on Friday, EU leaders agreed their delegation would be the EU institutions plus the five members of the Coalition of the Willing known as the E5: Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland. European Council President António Costa said Europe must speak with “one clear united voice” and called the effort “ultimately a team effort”.
The decision largely formalises what already happens. France, Germany and Britain have been at the table alongside Italy and a senior aide to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Officials have said the negotiators are likely to be national security advisers from the five countries and delegates from the Commission and the Council.
Why not one envoy?
EU capitals could not agree on one. Some backed Costa, who represents the 27 leaders; others wanted the foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. Whether she gets a seat is unresolved, and a senior diplomat called the arrangement “not ideal”. Kallas said Russia did not want her there.
Costa insisted only Ukraine could decide on its territory and sovereignty, and said: “Russia must change course.”
Will Russia accept them?
That is the open question. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Kushner, who met in Dublin, say a European delegation will join the next round in Abu Dhabi next week. The previous round there, the first in nine months, brought Russian, Ukrainian and US officials together; Europeans were present but kept out of the negotiations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was open to European participation only if it saw genuine readiness to contribute to peace, and that no concrete discussions had taken place.
What else did Europe promise?
Von der Leyen said the Commission would propose a 22nd package of sanctions on Russia and address Ukraine’s financing gap for 2027. Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said Irish peacekeepers would be willing to help monitor any ceasefire.
VNN will update this story as more is confirmed.
How we got here
The key moments that brought this story into focus. Open any moment for detail.
February 2022Invasion
Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
November 2026Abu Dhabi round
Russian, Ukrainian and US officials hold their first talks in nine months; Europeans are kept out of the negotiations.
12 November 2026Dublin gathering
41 European countries at the European Political Community meeting sign principles backing Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
13 November 2026Team named
EU leaders choose the E5 and the EU institutions to represent Europe.
What happens next
The next round of talks is expected in Abu Dhabi next week. Watch whether Russia lets the European team into the room, whether Kallas gets a seat, and when the Commission tables its 22nd sanctions package.
Sources
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