EU and five major European powers to send diplomats to Ukraine talks

The European Union will send diplomats alongside representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Poland to the next round of Ukraine talks, according to European Council President Antonio Costa. The move comes after a summit in which European leaders focused on how to avoid being left out of US-led negotiations over an end to the nearly five-year war. Costa said the continent should be represented by a single team and speak with one voice.

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Costa said the bloc and the five countries would be part of the delegation for the upcoming discussions. He described the arrangement as necessary to ensure that Europe is integrated into the process. The countries named are part of what is often described as the Coalition of the Willing, which supports Ukraine.

The announcement reflects growing concern among European leaders that a US-backed diplomatic track could leave Kyiv vulnerable if Moscow and Washington shape the terms of any settlement without them. Ukraine has been seeking continued backing from its European allies and has been reluctant to leave the talks solely in the hands of a US administration that European leaders have viewed with caution. Russia, meanwhile, has opposed direct European involvement in negotiations, arguing that European states are already financing and supplying Ukraine's military effort.

The issue matters because the talks are taking place against the backdrop of a war that has already lasted nearly five years and has become a central security issue for Europe. European leaders fear that any settlement reached without their participation could affect not only Ukraine's future but also the wider security balance on the continent. The question of who sits at the table has therefore become part of the broader diplomatic contest around the conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that there could be no support for Ukraine without Europeans, and he argued that Europeans would ultimately define their own security. His comments came as European leaders tried to present a more coordinated position ahead of the next phase of diplomacy. The remarks also underline the extent to which European governments are trying to avoid being treated as secondary actors in negotiations that could reshape the conflict.

The diplomatic push comes as envoys from Washington, Moscow and Kyiv met this week in Abu Dhabi, while several European countries, including the UK, France and Germany, held discussions nearby. That parallel activity suggests that Europe is trying to remain close to the process even where it is not directly included. It also highlights the tension between the desire for a negotiated settlement and the competing interests of the main parties involved.

What remains unclear is the exact format, timing and venue of the next round of talks, and how much influence the European delegation will have once discussions begin. It is also not clear whether Russia will accept a larger European role in the process. For now, the main development is that the EU and five major European powers are preparing to present a coordinated diplomatic front as the Ukraine negotiations move forward.

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