EU Leaders Agree Five-Country Team to Represent Europe in Ukraine Talks
European leaders meeting in Dublin on November 13 agreed that EU institutions and five countries will represent Europe in Ukraine peace talks. Spain is not included, and Kaja Kallas did not win the envoy role she sought.
European Union leaders meeting in Dublin on November 13 agreed that EU institutions and five countries will represent Europe in peace talks on Ukraine, European Council President Antonio Costa said. The EU agrees a five-country team for Ukraine: France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. Spain is not on it.
Costa said the five are the "E5" countries of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of nations backing Ukraine and working on security guarantees for it.
"Europe must speak with one clear voice and united voice in all discussions that shape the future of Ukraine and the security of our continent," Costa told a news conference. "And this is ultimately a team effort."
The decision follows fears in European capitals that US-backed negotiations could leave them sidelined. Moscow does not want European countries in direct talks, arguing they finance and supply Ukraine's military effort.
Kallas denied the envoy role
Leaders had debated whether Europe should send one envoy or a team. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni backed a single envoy. "There are too many different groupings discussing the issue," she said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had claimed the role earlier on Friday. "I'm the one who is representing Europe in the foreign and security policy," she said. She added: "I know that the Russians don't want me."
Al Jazeera's reporter at the summit said there was no unanimous support for Kallas, whom many see as uncompromising on Russia. Reports linked Spain's exclusion to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's absence from the Dublin meeting.
Kremlin has not agreed
After talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, US envoys said Europe would join future negotiations. The Kremlin said no decision had been made. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "The Europeans squabble like spiders in a jar."
US envoy Jared Kushner has pressed the point from the other side. "We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table," he said, adding that Putin "is willing to give it a try."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked Washington for "no surprises" ahead of expected talks between US President Donald Trump and Putin in China next week. Some leaders in Dublin feared a "second Anchorage moment," he said, a reference to the Alaska summit.
Costa stressed that "only Ukraine has the legitimacy to decide on matters concerning its territory and sovereignty." He said the coming weeks would be "a decisive test of Russia's readiness to bring this war to an end."
EU leaders are due to discuss Ukraine's financing needs for 2027 and beyond at their next European Council meeting on November 26-27.
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