The European Union has chosen five countries to represent it in peace talks with Ukraine. According to Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, the selected countries are France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. These countries, along with EU institutions, will form the European team for the peace talks. This decision comes after months of deliberation on who will represent the continent in these discussions.
The Kremlin has stated that Russia is open to the participation of European countries in Ukraine peace talks if they are willing to contribute to the peace process. Russian officials have called for a comprehensive agreement on Europe's security structure before discussing the end of the war. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Russia's statements as "the same old game," emphasizing that Europe and the US are united in their message.
Merz stressed that there will be no discussions about Ukraine without the participation of Kyiv, and no talks about Europe without European involvement. He also noted that the European security structure is already in place. Prior to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia demanded the withdrawal of NATO forces from countries that joined the alliance after 1997, a request that was rejected by NATO.
US envoy Jared Kushner began discussions with European partners on the continent's security structure during a visit to Moscow. Representatives from France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, as well as the EU, participated in talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi earlier this week. While Moscow and Kyiv reported some progress, there were no indications of a breakthrough on key issues like territory.
EU officials expect the representatives in future talks to be national security advisers from the five countries, along with delegates from the European Commission and the European Council. NATO is also likely to be represented in these discussions. The selection of these countries aims to ensure a unified European voice in the talks that will determine Ukraine's future and European security.
Some European leaders have expressed concerns that Russian calls for discussions on the European security structure may divert attention from the urgent need for a ceasefire. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kolbergs described these talks as a "trap." Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized the importance of avoiding unnecessary concessions to Russia.
Forty European countries signed a declaration in Dublin, stating that any issues affecting European security must be decided with European participation. The declaration reflects concerns that discussions on European security should not be conducted without European involvement. The EU's decision to select five countries to represent it in Ukraine peace talks aims to ensure a strong and unified European presence in these critical discussions.
Key points
- The European Union has selected five countries - France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK - to represent it in Ukraine peace talks.
- Russia has expressed openness to European participation in peace talks, but European leaders remain cautious.
- The talks aim to determine Ukraine's future and European security, with a focus on a unified European voice.
