EU leaders tussle over who to send to Ukraine, Russia peace talks

European leaders are grappling with the decision of who should represent them in Ukraine peace talks, following a diplomatic visit by US advisers to Russia. US envoy Steve Witkoff had previously stated that Europeans would be present at the upcoming meetings. During the European Political Community summit in Dublin, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed concerns about being sidelined, citing her own wry and ironic laughter.

The summit brought together 47 European leaders, who have been unable to agree on a single representative for the peace talks. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Europe must be represented at the table, alongside Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. However, many national leaders prefer to have their own representatives at the negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted on European involvement, though he noted that it should not occur while Russia is present at the table. This internal division among European leaders has sparked public debates and criticism, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accusing the bloc of appearing disarrayed and hindering the resolution of the conflict.

The potential for Russia to demand changes to European security structures, particularly NATO, has further intensified concerns among the leaders. They fear that such concessions could lead to a resumption of the conflict in Ukraine. Estonian Prime Minister Kristers Michal emphasized the dangers of engaging with Russia's demands, suggesting that discussing defense with the threat itself is counterproductive.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed hope for a "very big, beautiful agreement" that may involve Europe. Zelenskyy criticized the US approach as "a bit strange." The rancor over the peace talks is diverting attention from the more pressing issue of funding Ukraine's ongoing war effort, with the European Commission estimating a €70 billion funding gap.

While some, like Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, oppose further financial and military support for Ukraine, Germany's Chancellor Merz warned he could veto the next seven-year EU budget unless member states contribute to Ukraine's financing.