Gipfel in Dublin: Europäer benennen vorerst keinen Ukraine-Chefverhandler

In Dublin, European leaders have decided not to name a single chief negotiator for Ukraine peace talks at this time. EU President António Costa stated that they will continue working together in various formats during a meeting of around 40 European heads of state and government. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom could lead talks with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, depending on the subject matter.

However, Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz believes that for now, the focus should be on whether Russia is willing to engage in talks, rather than on appointing a single spokesperson. The main concern is that Russia must be present and willing to discuss. European participation in the talks remains a topic of discussion, with some leaders, like Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, expressing frustration that the EU has not yet identified a clear negotiator.

The recent debate was sparked by Jared Kushner's comments following recent direct talks between Moscow and Kiev mediated by the US. US envoys are expected to meet with President Zelensky in Dublin after the Gipfel, but it is unclear if European representatives will sit at the table.