European Union leaders meeting in Dublin on November 13 resolved the question of who will negotiate on Ukraine for Europe.
France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Italy will sit at the negotiating table alongside representatives of the European Council and the European Commission, as Adnkronos reported.
The decision came during an informal European Council meeting at the Convention Centre on the banks of the river Liffey. The discussions followed a morning session dedicated to artificial intelligence, which leaders quickly sidelined to address the ongoing war.
Three sources indicated that NATO should also participate in the negotiations.
“The security guarantees must be addressed within the framework of the coalition of the willing, in close coordination with NATO,” said European Council President Antonio Costa.
The format emerged from intense pressure applied by the United States and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov subsequently confirmed that concession. Russia had previously sought direct negotiations with Washington and Kyiv, viewing European neighbors as a disruption.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs argued that the bloc needed to adopt a tougher stance against Russia, while expressing skepticism regarding the seriousness of Moscow’s diplomatic overtures. Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal contended that the EU should be represented by Antonio Costa and High Representative Kaja Kallas.
Kallas, who was absent from the Abu Dhabi meetings, publicly criticized the U.S. approach of deploying non-institutional figures like Kushner and Witkoff to negotiate directly with Russia. She maintained that institutional bodies cannot simply mimic that informal model.
Ursula von der Leyen defended the structure established in Dublin. “We are the ones who decide who represents us, and that is exactly what we did today,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Costa echoed that defense, asserting that the treaties were fully respected because the European Council president represents the bloc in foreign policy at the leadership level.
With the negotiating format decided, the EU must now determine its specific mandate. Italian officials suggested that Europe should simultaneously place cease-fire terms, security guarantees, and the reconstruction of war-torn Ukraine onto the negotiating table.
Simultaneously, the Dublin summit touched off fierce disputes over the EU’s Multi-annual Financial Framework for 2028-2034. Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Germany could block the long-term budget if a requested €45 billion loan package for Ukraine is not funded across all 27 member states.
Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria have expressed strong doubts or sought to opt out of the financial package. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis reminded counterparts that Prague retains a national veto, while insisting that the EU cannot pay for everything while remaining excluded from decisive talks between Washington and Moscow.
