Europe seeks role in Ukraine talks as Moscow holds back
DUBLIN
TOPSHOT - Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney (L) and France's President Emmanuel Macron (2L) gesture as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) and Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrive to take their seats alongside European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a summit on Ukraine at the ninth meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), in Dublin on Nov. 12, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
European Union leaders agreed on a joint team for Ukraine peace talks on Nov. 13, but Russia said it had not yet agreed to European participation in the U.S.-mediated negotiations.
The team will comprise EU institutions and representatives of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, European Council President António Costa said after an informal summit in Dublin.
“Europe must speak with one clear and united voice,” Costa said, adding that the team would work in close coordination with all member states.
The decision followed a debate over whether Europe should appoint a single envoy, with Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas among the names discussed.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had raised the issue in a letter to Costa, warning that overlapping diplomatic initiatives and competing negotiating formats were undermining Europe’s credibility.
Kallas argued that her appointment in 2024 gave her a mandate to represent the bloc on foreign and security policy. She said Russia should not determine who represented the European side.
“I know that the Russians do not want me, but do we have a say who is representing Russia? No, we do not,” she said.
Kallas also acknowledged the distinction between representing the EU and speaking for European partners such as Britain and Norway, which are outside the bloc.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended the existing E3 format of France, Germany and Britain.
He said it had worked effectively, with Italy and Poland also involved, and saw no need for a debate over institutional roles.
Moscow, meanwhile, said European participation remained unresolved.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would decide whether to expand the talks after assessing European governments’ willingness to contribute to the peace process.
Moscow was prepared to speak with an authorized European representative, he added.
His remarks differed from statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. envoy Jared Kushner, who said Europeans would join the next round.
Kushner and fellow U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Nov. 12 before briefing Zelensky in Dublin.
Kushner said a peace agreement could not be concluded without Europeans at the table.
During the latest talks in Abu Dhabi, European officials met separately with the Ukrainian delegation but did not participate in the U.S.-mediated discussions between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.