US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Dublin on Wednesday evening following discussions in Moscow, setting up a new diplomatic format that will see European representatives participate in upcoming Ukraine peace talks.
The first day of the European Political Community summit in Dublin played out against a backdrop of institutional friction over who speaks for Europe. While capitals debate the mandate of EU representatives, the diplomatic track involving Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow is actively shifting toward a multilateral framework.
The Battle Over European Representation in Peace Talks
The question of a dedicated EU negotiator has exposed divisions among member states. France and Germany insist that any diplomatic table must stem from the E3 format and official European Union institutions.
Italy takes a different view on the architecture of these discussions. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued in Dublin that the proliferation of separate diplomatic groups creates confusion rather than clarity.
“Ci sono troppi formati, non è solo una questione di nome ma di mandato,” Giorgia Meloni said, as reported by ANSA.
Despite these disagreements, Meloni said that she holds no objection to European Council President Antonio Costa acting as a central diplomatic figure, noting that the primary concern remains the precise mandate and the inclusion of non-EU partners like the United Kingdom and Norway.
The French leader pointed out that the burden of backing Ukrainians has shifted away from Washington, remarking, “Siamo onesti, siamo noi europei, il Canada, l’Australia, il Giappone a sostenere gli ucraini perché il sostegno americano non c’è più,” Emmanuel Macron said.
Zelensky Meets European Sherps and US Envoys in Dublin
Following bilateral talks between Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European sherps from the E5 group met with the Ukrainian leader. Shortly afterward, Zelensky held a separate meeting with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The diplomatic sequence culminated in a session joining European institutional sherps and representatives from the E4 plus Poland, directly opposite the American delegation.
| Event / Milestone | Date / Timing | Key Participants |
|---|---|---|
| CPE Summit Dublin | Wednesday, Nov 12, 2026 | 47 European States, US Envoys |
| Berlin Coalition Meeting | Around Nov 19, 2026 | The Coalition of the Willing |
| Trilateral Summit | Following Nov 19, 2026 | Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping |
| Next Ukraine Peace Round | Late November 2026 | US, Ukraine, Russia, European Envoys |
The emerging team is expected to sit at the table for the next round of talks involving the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. That session is scheduled shortly after November 19, aligning with a gathering of the Coalition of the Willing in Berlin and a planned trilateral meeting in Shenzhen between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping, ANSA reported.
Nations Draft Security Charter to Combat Hybrid Threats
Alongside the immediate diplomatic maneuvering, the Dublin summit addressed wider security concerns across the continent. Roughly 40 nations participated in drafting a new security charter focusing on hybrid, cyber, and democratic threats.
The participating states in the European Political Community summit agreed to define key security principles in a draft charter that condemns Moscow’s intensified hybrid campaigns and promotes an autonomous, 360-degree approach to handling risks.
Under the draft conclusions, governments committed to developing tools to prevent and respond to destabilizing acts below the threshold of an armed attack, including cyber assaults and hybrid interference.
Reflecting on recent diplomatic contacts, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that “Ad Abu Dhabi, si è discusso ampiamente di garanzie di sicurezza; su questo punto, l’Europa deve prestare la massima attenzione,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“Nessuna contrarietà,” Giorgia Meloni told journalists regarding Antonio Costa taking on a central mediating role for the bloc.
