EU names France, Germany, Italy, Poland and UK plus institutions for Ukraine talks

Five countries and the EU institutions

European leaders settled who speaks for Europe at the informal summit in Dublin on Friday, 13 November, ending, at least for now, days of argument over the bloc's negotiating format. António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen announced afterwards that the team consists of the EU institutions and the E5, the group of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, with representatives of the European Commission and the European Council. A European official had earlier told AFP that the heads of state and government of the 27 member states approved that composition at the Dublin summit. Costa said the team would keep acting with full unity and in close coordination with all member states, and that the EU's principles and positions in these talks remain widely known. The stated aim is a single European presence in talks with the United States, Ukraine and Russia.

A single counterpart and the question of mandate

Vladimir Putin has demanded one European interlocutor. Costa answered that the United States has two special envoys and the Ukrainian delegation includes several people, calling the European arrangement normal. He said the EU encompasses both its own institutions, with their own competences, and the coalition of the willing, which plays a decisive role in security guarantees for Ukraine.

“It is necessary to have one team and to speak with one voice.”

Von der Leyen was more direct about the decision.

“We decide who represents us. And that is exactly what we did today.”

In an earlier letter, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni had asked for clarity on both the representation and the mandate of the European side. When asked specifically about the role of Kaja Kallas, Costa did not address her personally.

Berlin summit on 19 November

Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron and Andy Burnham, under the slogan United for Peace in Ukraine and European Security, have invited Coalition of the Willing members to a summit in Berlin on Thursday, 19 November. The German chancellery says the meeting will focus on coordinating ongoing diplomatic efforts, on security guarantees for Ukraine after the war, and on continued support for the country. The chancellery's statement describes Germany as Ukraine's largest supporter and says the coalition's shared goal remains a just and lasting peace. Germany is also pressing the EU to increase its aid to Ukraine and has threatened to veto the EU budget if it does not.

Pressure from the US track

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Putin on the evening of Thursday, 12 November, directly after the latest round of talks in Abu Dhabi. Witkoff told CNN he believed progress had been made, and said a new meeting had been agreed even though some had expected three-way talks not to resume. Kushner said the Europeans are partners and that it is important they take part. According to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Kushner also described the talks as substantive and detailed. Volodymyr Zelensky met both envoys in Dublin, and Kushner has said no agreement to end the war is possible without European participation. Zelensky confirmed that Europe will take part in the next negotiating meeting.