Europe seeks seat at Ukraine peace talks but lacks unified voice

Detailed summary

EU leaders believe a US-backed process will allow Moscow and Washington to decide the fate of a conflict.

European nations are debating who may be their representative in Russia-Ukraine peace talks while the continent’s leaders spar with Russia over their participation in future negotiations.

Whether Europe should be represented by one person or a team – and who should take on the role – was debated on Friday as leaders of the 27-nation European Union (EU) met at a summit in Dublin, Ireland. Senior EU officials and politicians have been suggested, but there is no consensus yet.

What the job might entail is also unclear and contested. However, EU leaders have broadly agreed on the need for Europe to join the ongoing trilateral negotiations between Washington, Kyiv and Moscow.

The EU is concerned that a United States-backed process will allow Moscow and Washington to decide the fate of a war that has embroiled the continent.

After talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, US envoys said that Europe would join future negotiations – but the Kremlin appeared to slam the brakes on that plan, saying no decision had been made.

German ⁠Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday pleaded for ⁠US President Donald Trump to create no ⁠surprises during expected talks with Putin in China next week.

“Some here in Dublin fear this could turn into a ‘second Anchorage moment’,” ⁠said Merz on ⁠the sidelines of the EU meeting, a reference to the Alaska summit where they were stunned by Trump’s overtures to the Russian leader in the absence of Ukrainian or European envoys.

“I therefore ⁠want to state ⁠our message to ⁠the United States very clearly: please, no surprises. Continue ‌to play as part of ‘Team Europe’ ‌and ‘Team ‌Ukraine’.”

Kyiv is eager for support from European allies, but Russia does not want European countries involved in direct negotiations, arguing they are financing and supplying Ukraine’s military effort.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Al Jazeera. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.